Winter season ushers in Fort Smith area holiday events

"It's the most wonderful time of the year," which means bring on the train rides, parades and of course, the Christmas food and music.

• Josiah Hawley concert benefitting the River Valley Regional Food Bank
The River Valley Regional Food Bank will welcome local celebrity Josiah Hawley for a benefit and concert on Nov. 30 at the Choctaw Casino Hotel in Pocola. Hawley is best known for his recent appearance on season 4 of the hit NBC show, The Voice, where America chose him as a top ten finalist. Since his appearance on the show, he has released four YouTube music videos featuring original songs.

The evening will begin with a wine and cheese "Meet and Greet" in the Choctaw Casino Hotel for all sponsors, and will follow with a three-course benefit dinner in the CenterStage at 7 p.m. After the benefit, guests will be invited to enjoy the casino's amenities before heading back for a midnight concert. The midnight show is open to the public with a $20 donation to the food bank.

Proceeds from the benefit and concert support the River Valley Regional Food Bank, which distributes more than  four million pounds of food annually to nearly 200 pantries in the eight-county area.

For more information, contact Ken at 883-9273.

• The Exploring with Happy Christmas Train

"Exploring with Happy" and the Arkansas Missouri Railroad will present the second annual "The Exploring with Happy" Christmas Train on Nov. 30. Children and adults will catch a ride in their pajamas and enjoy a trip filled with food, storytelling, and other holiday fun. Before departing, children will also have the chance to take their photo with Santa at the depot.

Two trains will run, with each trip lasting approximately 2-2.5 hours. The trains will depart from the depot in downtown Van Buren and make a round-trip to Winslow. Tickets range from $25-$75.

Proceeds from the ride support Operation Christmas Child which has gifted more than 100 million shoeboxes of toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy boys and girls in 138 countries since 1993. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (800) 687-8600.

• City proclaims "Fort Smith Western Heritage Month"
On Dec. 2, Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders will announce that the city will proclaim May 2014 as "Fort Smith Western Heritage Month." The announcement will take place at a special ceremony at the National Historic Site in front of Judge Parker's gallows beginning at 10 a.m.

Visitors will have the chance to have their photo taken with Mayor Sandy Sanders, who will be dressed in full western regalia, along with other historical figures including Judge Parker, Bass Reeves, and characters from the Old West performing group “Lawbreakers and Peacemakers."

This proclamation marks the first step in a long journey to revitalize and grow both the Fort Smith downtown area and its citizen’s pride and knowledge of its history. Individuals, small businesses, civic organizations, and clubs are encouraged to get involved and  put on their own events that lend towards the general theme of Fort Smith Western Heritage Month.

Admission to the ceremony is free. For more information, visit the Heritage Month Facebook page.

• Carols by Candlelight Christmas Concert
The Fort Smith Chorale will present its annual Carols by Candlelight Christmas concert, "Here We Come A-Caroling" on Dec. 5. The concert will be held at Fort Smith's First United Methodist Church, located at 200 N. 15th, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

This year's program will include "Hodie Christus Natus Est" (Now today, Christ is Born) by Palestrina, as well as "Sing We Now of Christmas" arranged by Fred Prentice. The chorale will also perform several Christmas classics, including "I Saw three Ships," "Somerset Wassail," "Silent Night," and "Carol of the Bells."

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at this link. Students will be admitted free of charge. For more information, call 479-242-SING.

• Mercy Foundation White Christmas Gala
Mercy Health Foundation will celebrate the season with its annual White Christmas Gala on Dec. 6. The sold-out event will include fine dining, dancing, and a live auction.

This year's gala will be held at the Movie Lounge in Fort Smith, beginning at 6 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Mercy Foundation, a non-profit organization "supporting the advancement of Mercy Hospital Fort Smith by securing public support for projects and services that touch the lives of our families, friends and community." This year's focus will be the hospital's nursing education fund.

Tickets are $100 and the gala is black-tie optional. For more information, contact Michelle Hood at 314-1186.

• Fort Smith Christmas Parade
The Fort Smith Jaycees will present the city's 73rd annual Christmas Parade on December 7 beginning at 1 p.m. The parade will run through downtown Fort Smith and will feature local organizations, bands,  and dance/cheer teams.

Admission to the parade is free. Groups interested in participating are welcome to march or enter floats in the parade. Trophies will be awarded to the top float, dance/cheer group, and free style entry. One award will also be presented to the "Best Overall" entry. The deadline to enter is Dec. 5.

For more information, check out the Fort Smith Jaycees Facebook page or call 353-0867.

• Holiday Buffet Dinner & Fort Smith Symphony's "A Living Christmas Card"
Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Crawford and Sebastian Counties will host its annual Holiday Buffet Dinner on Dec. 6, prior to the Fort Smith Symphony's presentation of "A Living Christmas Card."

The dinner will be held in the Fort Smith Convention Center Rotunda beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $40 and include a buffet, beverages and entertainment by Sweet and Lowdown. Symphony tickets are not included.

Donations of $50 will also be accepted for the chance to win a 14 karat gold diamond cross. The piece includes 22 round brilliant-cut diamonds, for a total weight 3.50 ct. The cross is appraised at $5,750. Only 100 tickets will be sold with the winner to be drawn that evening.

Following the dinner, guests will make their way to Arkansas Best Performing Arts Center to enjoy the Fort Smith Symphony's annual holiday concert. This year's event will feature "In Full Swing." The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to the SPSF dinner can be purchased by calling the SPSF office at 434-6171. Symphony tickets can be purchased by calling 452-7575.

• Living Windows/Lighting of the Crawford County Courthouse/Festival of Trees
Van Buren will officially kick-off the Christmas season with a full of slate of events on Dec. 7. Festivities will begin with the lighting of the historic courthouse. The ceremony will include performances by local choirs, entertainers, and words from County Judge John Hall.

Lining the courthouse steps will be the Festival of Trees, which will include trees decorated by local businesses and organizations in support of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce.

Downtown will come live as the Main Street merchants transform their shops into holiday displays with "Living Windows." Carriage rides will also be offered through the streets of downtown for $8.

Living Windows will get underway at 5:30 p.m., with the lighting ceremony to begin at 6 p.m.

Admission to the lighting ceremony, Festival of Trees, and Living Windows is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce at 474-2761.