It’s that time of year. Christmas music dominates the radio, social media is suddenly enamored with Elf on the Shelf sightings, and a sense of magic and wonder floats in the air.

Canadian residents will be as busy as Santa’s elves this season—from the highly-anticipated turkey dinner at the WCTU Christmas Bazaar and shopping under Canadian’s beautiful downtown Christmas lights, to Santa’s visit to the Palace Theatre and an afternoon and evening of games and hot chocolate at Sunset Park, the opportunities to enjoy this holiday season with your family and friends are abundant.

Use this handy holiday guide to mark your calendars so you won’t miss a thing!

Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26

Canadian’s merchants invite you to join them on Nov. 26 for Small Business Saturday. Local retailers participating include Bartlett’s Lumber and Hardware, Brown Bag Roasters, Canadian Animal Health and Nutrition, Canadian Medic Pharmacy and Gifts, the Citadelle, Katy’s Quilt Box, NAPA Motor Parts of Canadian, Peppermint Tree and the Branch, Perla’s Flowers and Gifts, The Store, and Vintage Leopard. These businesses are offering fabulous in-store specials, drawings for merchandise, and may even serve you a delicious holiday treat! Support the people who support this community. See the full-page ad in this issue for individual store hours and more.

‘A Christmas Carol’ to be staged at Texas Crown, Nov. 26-27

The classic Christmas tale A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Mistie Walser, will be brought to life on stage by Canadian Wildcat Theatre students at the Texas Crown Performance Hall on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27. Curtains will open both nights at 6 pm. Advance tickets are $7/adults and $3/students. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10/adult and $5/student.

Lighting of the Citadelle’s Waterfield Walk, Nov. 28

What a wonderful way to get into the spirit of the holidays. The Citadelle welcomes you to the Lighting of the Waterfield Walk, on Monday, Nov. 28, at 6 pm. Sip a cup of hot cider, visit with friends, sing carols, and watch the surrounding landscape come to life as thousands of white lights illuminate the Citadelle gardens. This is the ninth year for the lighting ceremony, which honors Jim Waterfield and his family for their years of selfless service and generous support to the community of Canadian and The Citadelle Art Foundation.

WCTU Christmas Bazaar, Dec. 2

Friday, Dec. 2, may be one of the most eagerly-anticipated days of the year in Canadian: the 114th Annual WCTU Christmas Bazaar from 11:30-1:30 pm. The Bazaar is one of Canadian’s oldest and most cherished traditions, first hosted in 1907 by the ladies of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Their goal was to purchase land, build a community library and meeting place, and fill it to the brim with books—all by selling turkey dinners! Enjoy a homemade holiday meal with all the trimmings made by the best local cooks in the county before making the hardest decision of the day: What kind of pie do I want? Tickets are $15 for adults, and $5 for children. The proceeds will be used for the library’s Summer Reading Program and other worthwhile projects.

Christmas in Canadian, Dec. 3

Saturday is the day, and Canadian is the place to be to get in the holiday spirit. Enjoy a visit and photos with Santa, a full day of family-friendly events, great shopping specials, tasty food and drink, holiday crafts, and store drawings.

8 am-6 pm / Brown Bag Roasters will be open serving delicious $1 hot chocolate for kids and offering tasty drink specials. A wonderful place to sit with friends, warm up, and plan your next move.

9 am-12 pm / Santa is coming to town. Listen for the sirens as Canadian’s volunteer firemen chauffeur the fat man in red atop a shiny firetruck to the Palace Theatre on Main Street. Santa will greet the children, listen carefully to their Christmas wishes, and pose for photos (taken by Natalie Weeks of Peanut Photo). Stop in and sign up for your kids’ photo session, then enjoy the many activities around town. You will be called when Santa is ready for your visit.

9 am-12 pm / CASA is hosting cookie decorating in the Palace Theatre’s downstairs dungeon. Create your masterpiece, enjoy a delicious distraction, and learn about this much-needed and worthwhile organization.

9 am-12 pm / Canadian All-Stars will host an open gym and Christmas crafts. Drop the kids off for $10 per hour per child and hit the stores for some kid-free shopping!

9 am-1 pm / Happily Hawkins will be open for holiday shopping, and children are invited to paint their special holiday ornament.

9 am-2 pm / 312 Main is the holiday headquarters for vendors who will tempt you with a variety of wares from art, décor, jewelry, and more. Tables are set up for children to pen letters to Santa. Wanna play? The CCC will offer fun carnival games from 10 am to 1 pm.

9 am-4 pm / Canadian’s new Business Hub plans to fill their store and the surrounding area with vendors, including glass blowers, an apparel wagon, a food truck, and more. A craft table will be set up so children can create their own special ornaments. All photos will be discounted, and a drawing will be held for an 8-by-10-inch canvas.

9 am-5 pm / The Peppermint Tree invites you to stop by for hot cider, goodies, and Christmas shopping from their large selection of apparel, gifts, and home décor. Gift wrapping is free, and there will be an in-store prize drawing.

11 am-2 pm / The River Valley Pioneer Museum is offering fun holiday crafts for kids. Create an original photo frame ornament for your picture with Santa!

11 am-6 pm / The Store and Vintage Leopard are filled with beautiful home furnishings, interesting décor, and apparel. Check out their in-store specials.

2 pm / A free showing of the Christmas classic Home Alone begins at 2 pm at the Palace Theatre, so grab some popcorn and rest your weary feet for a while.

Christmas in Sunset Park, Dec. 3

The Chamber will host the 3rd Annual Christmas in Sunset Park and Lighting of the Trees. The fun starts at 5 pm, so don’t be late! Kids will enjoy a new and improved Christmas train and games such as the crazy reindeer race, snowball throw, candy cane pull, and pin the nose on Rudolph. Did we mention food? The 4-H club will serve hot dogs and hot chocolate, while Mesa View will tempt you with cotton candy and popcorn. And, of course, there are s’mores.

Christmas Concert, Paula & Friends Dec. 4

When Paula Forrest plays the piano, you are transported to a better place. Enjoy a musical celebration of both traditional and contemporary Christmas music at the First Baptist Church on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 6 pm. It is not to be missed.

4-H Christmas Parade, Dec. 5

Brave the chill Monday and head for the curb as the 4-H Christmas Parade passes by. The parade floats will start rolling at 6 pm, heading out from Mesa View, turning up from Hackberry to Willard Street and traveling all the way to Cheyenne Ave., where they will head to Main and then proceed downtown to Brown Bag Roasters. Check out the route and get out and jingle your bells, Canadian!

Ladies Shopping Night, Dec. 8

A complete list of participating merchants will be published in next week’s Canadian Record. They will keep the doors open past dark on Thursday, Dec. 8, so you can shop after work at your leisure. Special discounts and drawings will be offered, as well as drinks and treats.

Breakfast with the Grinch, Dec. 10

Want to know what the Grinch eats for breakfast? Is it gonna’ be green? You can find out at the Chamber-sponsored Breakfast with the Grinch on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9-11 am at the Canadian Fire Station meeting room.

CHS Band Christmas Concert, Dec. 11

You do not want to miss the Canadian High School Band’s Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 pm. Held in the high school gymnasium, this popular concert is always well-attended. Better get to the high school foyer early for the Wildcat Band Bake Sale, featuring tempting sweets and snacks, as well as a silent auction, where if you’re lucky, you just might land that special Christmas gift.

Chamber Lighting Contest

The Chamber’s Christmas Lighting Contest is open to all residents. No entry is required, and no forms need to be filled out. If you want to make sure your house is on the judging list, call the Chamber and give them your address, but that is not required. Canadian Cash will be awarded to the top three contest winners. Keep calm and twinkle on because Santa’s helpers are on their way. Judging will be done sometime in mid-December.