Free Tickets Offered for “Christmas at the Orchard” in Luther this Weekend

We call it the most wonderful time of the year for a reason. I’m not even talking about my personal favorite, the Luther Pecan Festival. No, it’s the real wonderful time, the holiday season. There’s the music, decorations, sweets, and the sparkly magic, if we let it in. This year especially, we acutely see the wonderfulness of giving.

At the pecan orchard recently, I followed around Mark and Teri Stroud as they prepare their gift to the community with “Christmas at the Orchard.” They’re building a holiday fun experience for kids and a gift to adults who want to provide some of that holiday magic for their kids in their lives. Walking between the pecan trees that are being wrapped in twinkly lights, usual stoic Mark was giddy pointing to where the “Naughty or Nice Tracker” will be, the pallet maze that’s part of “Elf Training Academy,” and the stage where an interactive snowman will sit and tell corny jokes. Knock Knock! There’s also a spot where kids can write letters to Santa and pull a lever to send it to the North Pole! A station for decorating Christmas cookies and ornaments, roasting s’mores over the fire, and games are also part of the experience. The vision the Strouds have been working on all year is coming to life. Sure, they want to draw more people to the orchard and enhance the sustainability of their orchard beyond cultivating (the best) pecans around with experiences like this, but they also want to give this experience to the community. Read on to find out how!

I’ve also received the gift of watching Patrice Christy bring to life her vision for “A Christmas to Remember!” It’s THIS weekend, folks. For a year, she has poured her passion and determination into bringing the experience to life. Any one of the events happening this weekend – full stage production, holiday market, Christmas tree lighting, parade – takes a lot of preparation, grit, and deep breathing to get through all of the twists and turns of getting a lot of people moving in one direction.

It’s our turn to receive! We’ll see our friends on stage. Seriously, a stage production in Luther that is expected to make us laugh, and even shed a tear over the overall message! Could this be the spark that launches a community theater? I’m getting carried away, as usual, but what if the arts take off – giving students and adults an outlet to perform and grow – on and off the stage. What if there was a play staged at the orchard, or more concerts, or more markets, or more “Fill-in-the-Blank at the Orchard!” I’m there, are you? I do get carried away with the ideas, but as we know, having ideas (and opinions) is easy. The doing is the hard (and expensive, so expensive) part. By the way, this weekend’s play is at the high school auditorium to clarify!

The Luther Evening Christmas Parade Returns

If you’ve not knocked the dirt off of the tractor, put Christmas lights on your side-by-side, decorated that trailer with a Christmas inflatables, or put a Santa (Grinch?) hat on your Halloween costume – there’s still time. Actually, skip hosing off the dirt, it adds to our charm. Isn’t this how we do it? No matter how many emails, posts, and forms we ask to be filled out in the precious name of organization, it’s okay to just show up for a Luther parade. (5:30 pm at the middle school parking lot). Don’t miss it, lore has it that Luther hasn’t had an evening Christmas parade in maybe 20 years!

Remember to shop the holiday market on Main Street on Saturday before the evening festivities – the Christmas tree lighting and parade. Vendors and food trucks will set up, and we can also shop our stores and restaurant(s). I hear the guy who sold those popular boozy bears at the pecan festival will be back!

Christmas on Main and a “Christmas to Remember”

Family fun Christmas magic begins Friday night with the Luther Parks Commission’s “Christmas on Main.” Beginning at 6 pm, the carriage rides will be back, along with games and crafts. In addition, downtown shops will be open from 5 – 7 pm beginning this Friday and every Friday until Christmas for primetime local shopping.

Some of us will want to be downtown on Friday night, or we can opt for the opening curtain of the original play, “A Christmas to Remember,” on Friday at 7pm. Don’t worry if you stay on Main Street, you can still catch a command performance of the play on Sunday at 2 pm. Both performances will be at the LaVern Veasy Performing Arts Center at Luther High School, 18001 N Luther Road. Buy your $10 tickets at the door. Proceeds benefit the Luther Ministerial Alliance, helping those in need.

Saturday Holiday Market

On Saturday, “A Christmas to Remember” weekend continues with a downtown holiday market on Main Street. Shop vendors, enjoy food truck fare, or dine at our local restaurants. Stick around for a full evening that includes a special Christmas tree lighting and a return of Luther’s renowned evening Christmas parade.

On Stage

They are our neighbors, family, friends, AND cast members of the original play, “A Christmas to Remember.” Written by Johnny Melton, the play is set in 1970s small-town America. The story follows a young adult with special needs whose kindness transforms a man who is homeless. The play, expected to run for about one hour, is directed by Amy Manchester Borg (Lifetime, Cream Productions) and produced by Patrice Christy.

Special thanks to all of those who have embraced that it is better to give than to receive, and have planned this special season of holiday events as their gift to the community!

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

• FRI: “Christmas on Main,” 6 pm. Carriage rides, food, and games.
• FRI: PLAY “A Christmas to Remember,” 7 pm, high school auditorium.
• FRI: Main Street shops open until 7 pm
• SAT: Holiday Market on Main Street, 10 am – 7 pm
• SAT: “Christmas at the Orchard,” 3 – 8 pm
• SAT: Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade, 6 pm
• SUN: PLAY “A Christmas to Remember,” 2 pm, high school auditorium
• SUN: “Christmas at the Orchard,” 3 – 8 pm

*You read to the end! Here’s how to get FREE tickets to Christmas at the Orchard for Dec 6 or 7: grab a golden ticket during the Christmas on Main Street event on Friday night or at a participating downtown store. Showing them this article (picture below) might also get you in. And if you miss it this weekend, you’ll have to more weekends to check it out, and I am told there are discount tickets available for that too!