The Annual Christmas Festival is back next month with celebrations throughout the month of December. These fun, family oriented events are ready to get you into the holiday spirit and celebrate the upcoming Christmas season. As if you needed more reasons to head to the historic district, thousands of twinkling lights and decorations will adorn the streets and the holiday shopping is plentiful.
Kicking off December 6th at 6:00pm, the Eureka Springs Christmas Parade will make its way through downtown Eureka Springs and end at Basin Spring Park. This year’s theme will be “Christmas Memories”. The Grand Marshall’s are members from the world famous singing group the Platters. After the parade, sip on a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider at the Party in the Park. Listen to local bands and choirs perform holiday music and enjoy the festive holiday decorations. Head back to Basin Spring Park on Saturday, December 7th for a day with Santa. Santa Claus will be in the park from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Other events for the whole family will include a photo booth with Santa, Mrs. Claus letter writing station for those last minute requests and a gift wrapping station. There will also be family themed games and an area to make smore’s. Finish the evening with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 6:00pm. Local charities decorate thirty trees that will be lit for this annual event.
While holiday shopping in downtown Eureka Springs on the 7th, be sure to check out the living windows from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Watch as the shop windows come alive with holiday scenes. Select stores participate in this creative way to celebrate the season. Windows from years past include scenes from A Christmas Story and Santa’s elves in the workshop.
Santa returns to Basin Spring Park on December 14th for pictures, family games and a smore’s station. Look for the live Hidden Elves downtown to receive a gift at each location. Also on December 14th, the Jingle Bell Stroll Community Caroling will be from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. For a sweet treat, the annual Sweet Treats Cookie Tour is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Hosted by members of the local Bed and Breakfast Inns of Eureka Springs, this self-guided tour will include all nine Inns included in the organization. Each will be decorated for the holidays and have sweet treats and cookies on hand for sampling. You will even be able to take home the recipes to add to your collection.
If you are looking to mark items off your holiday shopping list, the Win a Window contest is back this year. Located across from the courthouse, shoppers will have the opportunity to guess the total amount of the prizes featured in the window. The closest guess to the actual amount will win all the items.
Located just two blocks from all the shopping and dining of the downtown area is Arsenic and Old Lace Bed and Breakfast. This Queen Anne Victorian style mansion is just the place to escape the hustle and bustle of this busy time of year. Complete with five guest rooms and plenty of open space to put your feet up, this cozy Inn is ideal for a romantic getaway or last minute weekend escape. Plan your visit to Eureka Springs and see why visitors return year after year.
Photo courtesy of MDIANEM
