– file photo || Last year’s first Dickens’ Christmas celebration went over with a bang, drawing in a large crowd to the alley behind Main Street Java in Benton for Sweet Shoppes, Ye Olde Pubs and carolling.

County gears up for Christmas season with Dickens, parades and concerts

Second annual
Dickens’
Christmas kicks
off Dec. 5

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Features Editor
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

MARSHALL COUNTY – Do you hear what I hear?
No, it’s not the sound of a child crying in the night, but residents of Marshall County may hear their fair share of sleigh bells and Christmas music in the coming weeks.

Beginning this weekend, Marshall County is jumping into the holiday spirit with concerts, parades and Dickens’ Christmas.

Events will kick off in Calvert City at 5 p.m. on Friday with the lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony in Memorial Park. Then, at 11 a.m. the following day, the city and Calvert City Lions Club will hold its 50th annual Christmas parade beginning at Railroad Avenue and KY Hwy 95.

The Calvert City parade is the longest, continuous-running Christmas parade in the region, and this year’s theme will reflect that of the very first parade: “Tis the spirit that counts.”

Christmas festivities continue in Benton that afternoon, Dec. 5. The Dickens’ Christmas celebration will kick-off with a performance by the Marshall County High School chamber singers at 1 p.m. on the courthouse square.

Following the performance at 1:30 p.m. the city will hold a tree lighting ceremony in Memorial Plaza and then a hanging of the green on the old Marshall County Courthouse at 1:45 p.m.

The events of the day will culminate with the yearly Benton City Christmas parade at 2 p.m. And this year’s parade will follow in the traditional English Christmas theme, parallel to the old world feel of the era of Charles Dickens.

“Weve kind of extended the events of Dickens’ Christmas to include several things throughout the week,” said Dickens coordinator Larry Krouse. “We’ve got everyone who participated last year and then some for the alley.”

The Marshall County Arts Commission will be ringing in the season during the week, as well. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 the commission will host its annual Community Christmas concert at the Kenneth Shadown Performing Arts Center at MCHS.

In addition to the yearly favorite season performances from the community band, choir and children’s choir, the concert will feature the first performance of the Arts Commission’s newest project: the children’s theatre group.

The small acting troup will be performing an adaptation called “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” from a classic editorial piece written by Francis Church in the Sept. 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun in response to a little girl’s time-old question — is there a Santa Claus?

Later that week, the MCHS Choir will host a Christmas concert of its own, beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 in the Performing Arts Center.

The events of the week will culminate in the second annual Dickens’ Alley starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 in the alley behind Main Street Java in Benton.

“We’re going to have the drama kids come again and perform scenes from Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’” Krouse said. “We’ve got a live nativity scene, and Magic Valley is going to roast a whole pig this year.”

Krouse said all of the favorites from last year will be involved, including the Ye Olde Pub, Sweet Shoppe and of course, Ebenezer Scrooge.

Live performances will be given by the chamber singers and carolers, and Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist will do interpretive movement as well as a chime performance.

And because no Christmas is complete without him, Jolly Old St. Nick will be making his way through the crowd.

“It’s going to be great,” Krouse said. “We had such a good turnout last year, and this year we’re hoping it’s just going to get bigger and better.”

All events of the week are free and open to the public. For more information on Dickens Christmas or participation, contact Krouse at 527-8658.