LIGHTING CALENDAR: Holidays aglow

THREE RIVERS AREA — Get into the Christmas spirit by following the 2009 Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights. More than 60 communities across Arkansas will participate in the Christmas festivities with light displays, parades, caroling and other magical holiday events.

The towns in the Three Rivers coverage area that are participating in the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights are listed below:

BATESVILLE

See the more than 200,000 lights illuminated at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, followed by the annual Christmas Parade down Main Street at 6. Before the lighting ceremony, take the kids to the Batesville Area Arts Council’s kids cookie house-building workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information on this or other events, call (870) 698-2400 or visit www.cityofbatesville.com.

BEEBE

The Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will begin at the school at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and travel into downtown Beebe. There will also be a lighting display in Daniel Park throughout the holiday season. Fore more information, call Ruth Couch at (501) 882-8135 or visit www.beebeark.org.

HEBER SPRINGS

The Light up the Park Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. After the parade, Santa and a live Nativity scene will be at Spring Park,and more than 500 luminarias will illuminate the park and around the courthouse. For more information, call Mary-Magaret Couch at (501) 362-3635 or visit www.heber-springs.com.

HORSESHOE BEND

The annual Festival of Trees will be Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6. For more information, call Karen Johnson at (870) 670-5433 or visit www.horseshoebendarcc.info.

JACKSONVILLE

The annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at Jacksonville City Hall. At 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, the 52nd Annual Christmas Parade will travel down Main Street, and Santa will make his first appearance of the season. For more information, call Michelle Price at (501) 982-3146 or visit the Web site at www.cityofjacksonville.net.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on the courthouse square.Caroling at Blanchard Springs Cavern will be at 4:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays from now until Sunday, Dec. 20, and beginning in December, there will also be caroling at 2:30 p.m. For more information, call Michelle Coon at (870) 269-5004 or visit www.yourplaceinthemountains.com.

NEWPORT

The Christmas Parade at Lakewood Park will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10. For more information, call Johnny Long at (870) 512-8185.

SEARCY

The town lights up with the Holiday of Lights Christmas Parade at the courthouse square at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. The holiday light display will also be there for viewing from now until Friday, Jan. 1. For more information, call Lillie Cook at (501) 268-2486 or visit www.searcy.com. To map out the tour, visit www.Arkansas.com and download the brochure, or call 1-800-NATURAL for more information.

There are other festivities in the area that aren’t on the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights: AUGUSTA

The Festival of Trees in Preller Park will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. For more information, call Gayne Schmidt at (870) 347-6676.

CABOT

Cabot’s Annual Christmas Parade will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, and will travel South Pine Street beginning at Panther Trail. For more information, call (501) 920-2122 or e-mail cabotbeautiful@yahoo.com.

JACKSONVILLE

Davis Christmas Wonderland, a 3-acre, 125,000 bulb display with a 40 foot shooting star and 15 trees decorated and choreographed to music. Monday through Thursday from dark to 8 p.m., and lights will be on all night Christmas Eve. Located at 9604 Jacksonville-Conway Road.

- jbrosius@arkansasonline.com

Three Rivers, Pages 55 on 11/19/2009

Print Headline: LIGHTING CALENDAR Holidays aglow