Christmas on the River Celebration nears
<span>Plans are under way for the 27th annual Christmas on the River Celebration in Chester. The event will be held Dec. 4-6 with the theme of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."</span>
<span>The Lighted Parade will be held on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and will begin at Chester High School and make its way down Swanwick Street to the Randolph County Courthouse. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their debut in the new Santa House.</span>
<span>To register to participate in the parade, contact Norma Baughman (618-826-4461) or Linda Sympson (618-826-2721).</span>
<span>The popular craft and vendor sale will be held at the Randolph County Courthouse and American Legion Post 480. Sale hours are Friday (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.), Saturday (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)</span>
<span>Vendor spaces are still available.</span>
<span>Evergreen Cemetery will feature Signs of Remembrance again this year. Many individuals and organizations during the past years have remembered someone who passed away.</span>
<span>The names of those remembered are placed on a sign with a frame along the road inside the cemetery. The signs will be up from Thanksgiving to Christmas.</span>
<span>Renewal costs for signs are $10 per signs. New signs are $20.</span>
<span>To place your Sign of Rememberance, make your check payable to Christmas Cemetery Signs Committee and mail it to one of the following addresses:</span>
<span>Norma Baughman</span>
<span>421 Opdyke Street</span>
<span>Chester, IL 62233</span>
<span>Linda Sympson</span>
<span>10 Bridge Bypass Road</span>
<span>Chester, IL 62233</span>
<span>Santa and Mrs. Claus will return to Chester on Dec. 5 as they make their arrival via barge at 10 a.m. Children can visit with Santa at the Chester Boat Club until noon and refreshments will be available.</span>
<span>Santa and Mrs. Claus' visit is made possible courtesy of the Chester Boat Club and the Chester Chamber of Commerce.</span>
<span>Cole Memorial Park will be this year's visiting place on Dec. 5. Santa's House will be located in the park for children of all ages to come visit.</span>
<span>Dates and times will be announced.</span>
<span>Lighted displays will be in the park as well. Some have been made possible through contributions and others will be placed by city residents helping to "Light Up the Park."</span>
<span>The Randolph County Museum will be open Dec. 5 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Dec. 6 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.).</span>
<span>St. John Lutheran's Parent-Teacher League will host its 43rd annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Parish Hall.</span>
<span>St. Mary's Parent-Teacher Organization will host their annual Chicken and Dumpling Dinner in the school cafeteria on Dec. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.</span>
<span>Buena Vista National Bank will host an open house on Dec. 5 beginning at 6 p.m. The bank will serve hot chocolate and cookies until the end of the parade.</span>
<span>For more information, contact Patti Carter at 618-826-1430 or chesterskateland@hotmail.com.</span>