"Christmas Spoken Here" will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens. Children aged 12 and under will be allowed to come in free; adults pay $5.
Santa will be on hand from noon until 4 p.m. in the Pavilion at the Bodine Visitors' Center to hear the children's wishes, and he will also pose for photos for a small fee. The kids can also take part in fun activities such as cookie decorating and creative crafts. Storyteller Janice Tutein, on behalf of the Friends of the Florence Williams Public Library, will be on hand at 1:30 p.m.
The Pearl B. Larsen quadrille dancers will perform in the Visitors Center Courtyard at 2:30 p.m. Choirs will be singing seasonal songs on the hour, every hour throughout the day in the Great Hall. Dozens of vendors will be on hand, selling everything from local food and drinks to artwork, jewelry, T-shirts, books, clothing, pottery and much more. The Garden's bar, staffed by volunteers, will have special drinks for sale under the tent behind the Hall. The Museum Store will be open all day.
The White Reindeer Sale–with items at bargain prices–will be held under the Pergola at the Visitors' Center. Generous supporters have donated box-loads of items to be sold to raise funds for the Garden's programs. New this year is a contest called "Christmas Cooks" with four categories: sweet bread; Vienna cake; tarts and drinks. Call the office at 692-2874 for an application form. There will be cash prizes in all categories.
The "Jingle Bar" will offer drinks under the tent behind the Great Hall.
The Garden's Nursery, staffed entirely by volunteers, will be open as usual, with lots of interesting plants for sale to make an island home even more beautiful.
For more information, call 692-2874.