‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is the name of St. Marys Little Theatre’s holiday production that will be performed at Theatre by the Trax on December 16, 17 and 18. Auditions for all parts will be held on November 1 at 6 pm at Theatre by the Trax, 1000 Osborne Road in St. Marys. Roles that need to be filled include:

Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, 6-8 year old girl and boy, mom and dad (25-40 years old), other children to be elves, adult carolers, and more.

All roles (except mom and dad) are singing parts. Families are encouraged to audition together if interested.

According to St. Marys Little Theatre Chair, Barbara Ryan, the group’s first holiday production will be an enchanting musical that will appeal to all ages.

“It begins with little Susie Anderson who lives in St. Marys and has lost her belief in Santa,” Ryan said. “But before the show is over, she is inspired to believe, as will the entire audience.”

Audiences can expect special effects at the same level of quality as they enjoyed in Man of La Mancha, the Theatre’s premiere production. Joe and Terra Lucent, producers of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, wanted to give the community an opportunity to share the joy of the holiday with a message of hope and love.

“We’ve mixed traditional songs with contemporary music and threaded it all with a story that will stir the hearts of everyone,” Terra said. “My husband and I love Christmas. It really is the most wonderful time of the year, and it will be even more special this year as we endeavor to enrich the community’s experience of the holidays with this beautiful production.”

The play’s script was written by Barbara Ryan and is anchored by the beloved poem that is carried by the play’s name. Tickets can be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, Bulldog Liquors, or Cedar Oak Café. Prices are $10 for adults, and $6 for children under 12. Call 912-729-1103 for more information or visit www.stmaryslittletheatre.com.

Celebrate the holidays in style in Camden County.

White Lighting in St. Marys
Come to downtown historic St. Marys on November 30, 2010, for the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree.  Read more about the event here – White Lighting in St Marys

Kingsland Christmas Tree Lighting & Open House
Get into the holiday spirit in Kingsland during this popular annual event on December 2, 2010.   Read more about it here – Kingsland Christmas Tree Lighting & Open House

Jingle Bell Jog – St Marys
There will be a Jingle Bell Jog, 5K Walk/Run on December 4, 2010. The day will start at 8 AM with a Pancake Breakfast in the Charles Gilman Waterfront Park for $5.00. Registration for the Walk/Run will be from 8:30 to 9:15 AM with the race starting at 9:30 AM. Registration will take place at the Waterfront Park / Boat Ramp area.  5K Runners will compete for age group awards Overall Male, Overall Female and Top 3 male and female in age categories. Walkers will be competing for a grand prize for the best costume in keeping with our theme. Applications available  www.smkiwanis.com. For more information contact Jeremy Jacobs at Jeremy.Jacobs@amerisbank.com or 912-882-3400, or James Sattler at csattler@tds.net or 912-441-0632.

Christmas Tour of Homes & Open House – Woodbine
On December 4, 2010, come to  Woodbine for the Christmas Tour of Homes followed by Christmas Parade, and Santa himself will show up too.  Read more about Christmas Tour of Homes & Open House here.

Christmas in the Park – St Marys
Lots of fun for both young and old at the Waterfront Park on December 4, 2010,  with games and holiday characters (like The Grinch).
Christmas in the Park – St Marys, GA

Woodbine Community Christmas Celebration – Woodbine
Historic and charming Woodbine is the setting for the Woodbine Community Christmas Celebration hosted by the Woodbine Steering Committee at the Woodbine United Methodist Church located at the corner of Bedell Avenue (U.S. 17) and East 4th Street. This  celebration  features a community choir, hand bells and a Christmas story. For more information call 912-576-3211.

Candlelight Tour of Homes – St Marys
Come visit St. Marys during the holiday and see some of the beautiful historic homes, Bed and Breakfast Inns and other venues during the Christmas Tour of Homes on December 11, 2010. Read more here – Candlelight Tour of Homes

Live Nativity – St Marys
Come visit Orange Hall for this popular annual event on December 16, 2010. Read more and watch our video here about The Live Nativity – St Marys

• WHITE LIGHTING CEREMONY NOVEMBER 30
• CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK DECEMBER 4
• CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES DECEMBER 11
• LIVE NATIVITY DECEMBER 16

The magic of history and the holidays will meld together in the enchanting town of St. Marys, Georgia beginning Tuesday, November 30 with the traditional White Lighting Ceremony and continue well into December with events for all ages and interests.

NOVEMBER 30 WHITE LIGHTING CEREMONY-begins at dusk at the old paper mill site on Osborne Street. Santa leads the entire town through the streets, lighting up each block with thousands of white lights as he goes. Then, at the waterfront, the giant town tree is lit accompanied by holiday music and good cheer. Click here to read more about the White Lighting!

DECEMBER 4 CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK-an old-timey Christmas that brings back the days when the paper mill hosted this beloved event. All children are given stockings stuffed with toys and treats. Lots of games and holiday characters (like The Grinch) who entertain in the Waterfront Park.

DECEMBER 11 AFTERNOON AND CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMES-
1pm – 4 pm. Tour beautifully decorated small cottages and mill homes in Downtown St. Marys
5:30 pm – 9 pm. The town’s signature homes, historic churches, and quaint inns sparkle with charming décor and the spirit of yesteryear. Tickets for the Tour of Homes may be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, 410 Osborne Street, in advance for $12, or on the day of the event at the Welcome Center for $15. Tickets cover both the daytime and evening tours. Other events are free to the public.

DECEMBER 16 LIVE NATIVITY-The message of the season is beautifully portrayed in a live rendition on the grounds of Orange Hall, complete with stable animals and carolers. To watch our video from the Live Nativity in St Marys, click here.

For more information about the tour, call 800-868-8687 or 912-882-4000 or visit www.stmaryswelcome.com.

Polar Bear Plunge
On Saturday, January 3 2009, from 12pm – 2pm at the St Marys Aquatic Center, join us for the Polar Bear Plunge!

Bring in the New Year with a trip down the big slide at the St Marys Aquatic Center, located just minutes east of Kingsland. The Polar Bear Plunge event will take place on the 1st Saturday in January from noon to 2pm and admission is free to all who brave the cold temperatures. The water will be chilly, so bring warm clothes to change into (wetsuits are allowed!). Concessions will be available, lifeguards will be on duty, parents must accompany all children under 10 years of age and all height restrictions will apply. For more information, contact 912-673-8118 or www.funatsmac.com

From 8 – 10 am enjoy breakfast with the Grand Marshall of the Christmas parade, Santa Claus at the Okefenokee Education and Research Center. There are limited tickets available on first come basis.  Admission is $3 for children and $4 for adults.

For more information please call 912-496-2536 or email okechamber@alltel.net

The annual event starts at dusk at the old paper mill site. The parade proceeds down the holiday decorated Osborne Street with Santa & Mrs. Santa leading the way. Once Santa arrives at the waterfront the City Christmas Tree is lit. Music and performances at the waterfront.

This is a great way for your and your family to get into the holiday spirit.

Downtown Kingsland comes together for the City’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Presented by the Kingsland Community Betterment Program, this event is held at 6pm at the Kingsland City Park (in front of the Kingsland Police Department). Activities include: Live Christmas caroling, Christmas story reading, Santa Claus and features free holiday refreshments – hot cocoa, wassail, and Christmas cookies! Free & fun for all ages. For more information, contact the Kingsland Convention & Visitors Bureau at 912-729-5999 or www.VisitKingsland.com

Located at the Howard Gilman Waterfront Park, St. Marys Street, St. Marys. All of the events are free of charge from the holiday Ginger Bread House serving up cookies and cocoa to numerous crafts, games and activities for the kids. Hayrides, a kids train, holiday carolers and choirs, bell-ringers and musicians the day will be chocked full of yuletide fun. Santa will arrive to distribute Christmas stockings to each child. The evening ends with a classic Christmas movie shown on a large outdoor movie screen at dusk. Call (912) 882-1718 for more information

The public is invited to re-live the joys of an old-fashioned Christmas as they tour historic homes, inns, and Churches and other historic buildings from 5 to 9 pm on December 13, 2008.

An annual tradition hosted by St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau  partnering, with the Historic Preservation Commission; this year’s tour includes some sites that the public might not ordinarily have access to such as the old city jail in City Hall, the Historic St. Marys Railroad Depot.

Some of the city’s most beautiful bed and breakfasts and homes will be on the tour this year as well, each uniquely decorated in the fashion of their era. The Bachlott House (home of the National Park Service), the Stotesbury Johnson House (home of Family Matters), six private homes, two bed and breakfast inns, and five churches will open their doors for the event—many serving refreshments.

Carolers will further enhance the Norman Rockwell experience, and other entertainment includes bagpipes and hand bells.

Transportation between tour stops will be provided by golf carts hosted by members of the St. Marys Golf Cart Association , the St. Marys First Baptist Church bus, and the new Convention & Visitors Bureau trolley.

Tickets may be purchased at the St. Marys Welcome Center, 406 Osborne Street, Sheila’s Hallmark, The Goodbread House, Cumberland Inn & Suites, Spencer House, French Quarter, Once Upon a Bookseller, and at the ITT Department at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base for $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the tour.

This year’s Candlelight Tour is dedicated to the memory of St. Marys’ beloved resident and history lover Ann Stacy. Proceeds will benefit the Historic Preservation Commission of St. Marys and support tourism development by St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For more information about the tour, call 912-882-4000. For information about St. Marys, visit www.stmaryswelcome.com.