Community calendar of upcoming events

WASHINGTON AREA

Free Holiday Matinee series at the State Theater Dec. 21, and Jan. 4, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Dec. 22 and Jan. 5 from 12-2:30 p.m.

Holiday Sing-Along Dec. 19, 12-1 p.m. at the Washington Public Library

Main Street Washington Ugly Sweater Crawl Dec. 19 from 4-7 p.m. in downtown Washington

Memorial Trees Open House Dec. 20, 1-4 p.m. at Hospice of Washington County

(Rescheduled) Santa Visit to Riverside: Dec. 21, 10-11:30 a.m. at Riverside Fire Station

Piano Marathon Dec. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Washington Public Library

Free Brighton Community Dinner Dec. 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Brighton’s city park. Takeout only.

Holiday LaserFest Dec. 21, 7-9 p.m. at the Washington Community Center

Café Dodici’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and Alive After 5: Dec. 30 from 4-6 p.m.

Noon Year’s Eve Party Dec. 31 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Washington Public Library

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NYE Celebration featuring Rock of Ages Dec. 31 starting at 9 p.m. at the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.

Making Pretty Papers Workshop Jan. 4, 2025, from 1-3 p.m. at Washington Public Library.

Washington Fire Department Pancake Day: Jan. 8, 2025 at Washington Fire Station. Lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Dinner 5-7 p.m.

MT. PLEASANT AREA

Mt. Pleasant Veterans Breakfast: Every third Friday at the Mt. Pleasant Veterans Hall from 8:30-9:30 a.m. All are welcome for this free-will donation breakfast.

Festival of Lights: Through Dec. 31 from 5:30-9 p.m. at Old Threshers Campgrounds, Santa will be available for visits at the end of the tour Dec. 20-23.

Star gazing: Dec. 19 from 5-7 p.m. Henry Conservation will host a star gazing event at the Oakland Mills Nature Center

Sunrise Terrace Open House: From 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunrise Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will welcome the community for a Christmas Open House to celebrate the team’s accomplishments in 2024.

Moose Member Appreciation Night: Mt. Pleasant Moose Lodge will host a member’s appreciation night Thursday, Dec. 19. Members will enjoy free appetizers and pizza slices from, 5-7 p.m. Member and qualified guests may then enjoy Trivia Night from 7-9 p.m. There is no charge to play and no prize except bragging rights.

Toy Drive give away: Dec. 20 Mt. Pleasant Police Department will host their annual toy drive give away.

Beef Weigh-In: Rescheduled, the Henry County beef weigh-ins will be held on Dec. 21 starting at 8 a.m. at the Wickham Veterinary Service.

Santa and Cookies: Deliahs Children’s Boutique will offer pictures with Santa, cookies and refreshments from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.

Parkview Home Christmas Program: Friday, Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. Parkview Home in Wayland will host a Christmas Music Program with Happy Memories.

MPCHS Alumni and Friends Pep Band/Choir: Friday, Dec. 20 Mt. Pleasant Community School District alumni and friends will perform at the home basketball game. At 6 p.m. musicians will gather in the high school music room to practice a few tunes, then practice the national anthem as choir. They will then head out to the basketball game to play.

Panther Varsity Basketball: MPCHS varsity basketball teams will play at home with the women’s team tipping off at 6 p.m. and men’s at 7:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Moose Members Kids Christmas Party: Rescheduled to Sunday, Dec. 21, the Mt. Pleasant Moose Lodge will host a Christmas Party for Moose members’ children from 1-3 p.m.

Santa Meet and Greet: Sunday, Dec. 22 from 12-2 p.m. at the New London Fire station New London Holiday Stroll will host a Santa Meet and Greet after an ice storm cancelled the annual holiday stroll. Enjoy walking tacos for $6 and hot chicken sandwiches from Dover Museum.

Children will receive an elf goodie bag and teddy bear. They can also decorate a sugar cookie, color a character for the coloring contest, and decorate a Christmas ornament. The event will also include free face painting and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Lessons and Carols: Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church will host a service fille with choral works and Bible readings accompanied by their 1928 organ.

Quilt raffle: Winfield Historical Society and Museum will draw a winner for their quilt raffle Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Winfield Museum. Tickets are on sale at Winfield Pilot Grove Savings Bank, Winfield city offices, and the Winfield Museum. Tickets may also be purchased through board members. They are $5 for one ticket, $25 for six, and $50 for 15.

New London V.F.W. Catfish and Chicken Dinner: New London V.F.W Post 7641 will host a catfish and chicken dinner from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 Catfish dinners will cost $13 and chicken will cost $9 per person. Each dinner includes a roll and choice of two sides. Sides include French fries, baked beans, and coleslaw.

Crooked Creek FFA Pancake Supper: The Winfield-Mt. Union Crooked Creek FFA will host a pancake supper January 4 at WMU school cafeteria beginning at 5 p.m. the supper will last through half-time of the girls’ basketball game against WACO.

WACO PTO: Jan. 6 from 6-7 p.m. WACO PTO will meet at WACO Elementary for monthly meeting.

Hollydaze: Rescheduled to Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. SEISO will host a holiday concert at the Chapel Auditorium

FAIRFIELD AREA

Christmas Piano Concert by Werner Elmker, Dec. 20. This concert will be held Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary in Fairfield. The event is pay what you may, with a suggested donation of $20. All concert proceeds benefit Golden Magnolia Sanctuary. Join prolific pianist and composer Werner Elmker as he takes us on a delightful inner Christmas journey of improvisational, classical and popular music. Werner has made a deep impression in Fairfield with his many artistic endeavors. Increasingly known for his magical photos and videos of Fairfield life and nature, Werner has long created magic on the piano as well, with his refined touch and improvisational skills.

Richland Child Care Center open house, Dec. 20. The newly opened Jerry B. Robinson Child Care Center in Richland will host an open house from 3-7 p.m. on Dec. 20. The building will be open to the public, and the center will have games, activities and snacks for children.

Christmas Movie Night at Prairie View Church, Dec. 21. Prairie View Church of Ollie will host a showing of the film “Scrooge: A Christmas Carol” at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21. Event will include snacks and hot cocoa. All are invited to wear their favorite Christmas pajamas. Church is located at 27131 Highway 78 just south of Ollie.

Fairfield Rotary Christmas Eve Parade, Dec. 24. Santa makes a special appearance in Fairfield before heading out on his whirlwind trip around the world. Track him through town or meet up with him on the Fairfield Square. Santa’s sleigh will leave the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center at 5 p.m.