Holiday datebook: December 7, 2011

Caroling in Todds Point
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church will go caroling in Todds Point at 7 o’clock Thursday. Church members are more than welcome to participate in the caroling. Meet at the church before 6:45.
Christmas celebrations
Simpsonville Christian Church will host a series of Christmas season worship celebrations. The events include Sunday, The Grumpy Shepherd, a Children’s program; Dec. 18, Born Is A King, a cantata by the adult choir; Dec. 24, Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6 p.m.; Dec. 25, Carol Sing. All services begin at 10:50 a.m. except Christmas Eve.
Simpsonville Baptist
A live Nativity will be Dec. 16 and 17. Christmas services will be 5 p.m. candlelight Christmas Eve worship, 10 a.m. Christmas Day worship.
Mount Pleasant Baptist holiday events
A living Nativity will be at 6:30, 7 and 7:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Todds Point. Community services will be at 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. Sunday, with a lighting of the community Christmas tree at 6:50 p.m. Hot cider and chocolate will be available outside. A old-time Christmas gathering song service will be at 7 p.m.
Festival of Trees at Amber Oaks
Amber Oaks Assisted Living in Shelbyville will host its fourth annual Festival of Trees through Thursday. The festival will feature a public display of many one-of-a-kind, uniquely decorated trees and wreaths. Many of the themed trees and wreaths will be donated for silent auction, with all the proceeds going to local charities. A silent auction and festival Christmas party will be 4-6 p.m. Thursday.
Spaghetti with Santa
Girl Scout Troop 1244 will host Spaghetti with Santa 5-8 p.m. on Friday at First Christian Church, 1000 Eminence Pike. An all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner with salad, drink and dessert is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 2-10. Dine-in and carryout are available. Pictures with Santa will be available as well as an opportunity to visit the Christmas Village and make a gift for someone special (for a nominal charge). For more information, call 633-3345 or 220-2729. The Festival Choir will present Searching for the King by David Clydesdale at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 18. A nursery will be available.
Christmas with the Monarchs
Corpus Christi Academy will host its fifth annual Spirit of Christmas Dance, featuring the Monarchs and a $3,000 raffle, on Saturday at the Shelbyville Country Club lodge. Doors will open at 8:15 p.m., and dancing will be 9 p.m. to midnight. A full cash bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be available. Tickets are $50 per couple or $30 for singles. Raffle tickets are $100 each (you need not be present to win). Co-sponsored by WLCR-AM (1040). Seating is limited. Call 722-8090 for reservations.
Smith-Berry holiday open house
The Smith-Berry Winery in New Castle will have a free holiday open house at  2-5 p.m. Saturday. Musical guests will be Steve Cooley and Mike Schroeder. Larkspur Press will be available with unique books, broadsides and cards for sale. There will be shacks and a sneak preview of the next wine release and tastings only – John Harley and 2007 Zinfandel. For more information, contact Jennifer Cowden at 502-845-7091 or jennifer@smithberrywinery.com.
Medleys’ Christmas open house
Sam and Joyce Medley will host a Christmas open house 5-8 p.m. Sunday at their home at 5398 Taylorsville Road in Finchville. The event is free except for the spirit you receive viewing villages, trains, scenes of Christmas, seven large trees and a Mickey Mouse tree and a poodle tree. Refreshments will be served while they last.
Christmas cantata
The Christmas cantata The Love of God at Christmas at Christiansburg Baptist Church will performed at 11 a.m. on Sunday. There will be a candlelight service 6 p.m. Dec. 24.
Homemakers’ cookie exchange
A cookie exchange will be 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 13 at the Shelby County Extension Office. Bring three dozen homemade cookies and the recipe to participate in this annual event sponsored by the new homemakers club. Prizes will be awarded for the best homemade from scratch cookies, the best short-cut cookies, and the best-decorated cookie.  You will find holiday gifts at the silent auction to raise funds for the Shelby County Animal Shelter.  You are also invited to bring donations for the shelter such as old towels, cat litter, soft and dry cat and dog food, bleach, laundry detergent and paper towels.
SCHS choir’s winter concert
The Shelby County High School choir will present a What Sweeter Music: A Winter Concert at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Dec. 13. Preferred-seating tickets are on sale the week before in the youth services center for $10, and tickets at the door are $5 for adults, $3 for students and children 5-years-and-under are free. For more information, call 502-424-2282 or E-mail courtney.richardson@shelby.kyschools.us.
Christmas puppet show
The youth puppet ministry at Graefenburg Christian Church will present Psalty’s Christmas Calamity with two performances at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 18. The church is located at 5900 Louisville Road at the Intersection of 151 and U.S. 60 at Graefenburg.
Santa Claus comes to Bagdad
Santa Claus will be in Bagdad 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 to see all of the kids before Christmas. He and his elves will be serving cookies and drinks at the Bagdad Ruritan Club, 5632 Elmburg Road.
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa will be coming to Shelby County Chiropractic at 2-6 p.m. Dec. 16 to visit with children of all ages before he heads to the North Pole. his event is free to the public, and all are welcome. So bring the kids to 1713 Midland Trail to say hi and get your picture taken with Santa Claus. For more information. call Santa’s helper, Kathy, at 633-1073.
Finchville Ruritan Christmas party
The Finchville Ruritan Club’s annual community Christmas party will be 5 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Finchville Community Center on KY 55 in Finchville. Santa and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, the Grinch and the elves will be there to visit the children. Refreshments will be served.
Secret Santa workshop
A free Secret Santa workshop will be open for children in the community to make gifts for family and friends at 2 and 5 p.m. Dec. 17 at Simpsonville United Methodist Church.
Dinner theater, cantata at Bagdad Baptist
Bagdad Baptist Church’s youth group is presenting a musical dinner theater, Celebrate the Day, at 6 p.m. Dec. 17. There is no charge, but donations to the youth group will be accepted. Call the church for reservations at 747-8933. The adult choir’s Christmas cantata, Mary Did You Know, will be 11 a.m. Dec. 18.
Pancake breakfast with Santa
Shelby County Parks & Recreation will sponsor a pancake breakfast with Santa at 8 a.m. Dec. 17 at the Birch House at Clear Creek Park. Tickets will be available at the door for $6 for adults and $4 for children. Pictures with Santa will also be available for $1. New this year is a craft with Santa’s Elves for FREE! For more information, contact Shella Mays at 502-633-5059 ext. 212  smays@shelbycountyparks.com.
Cantata at Finchville Baptist
The Finchville Baptist choir will present The Promise of Christmas  at 7 p.m. on Dec. 18. There will be a fellowship meal at 5:30 and dessert after the cantata.
Holiday musical at Highland
The choir will present the Christmas Musical Heaven on Earthat 10:30 a.m. Dec. 18.
Cropper Baptist Church
The choir will present its Christmas cantata during the morning service Dec. 18. The Children in Action will present the play Mary Did You Know? at 6 p.m. Dec. 18. Refreshments will follow. Practice is under way at this time; contact Anna Woods or Sandy Powell if your child is interested in participating in this exciting children’s program.
Graefenburg Baptist
Joy Has Dawned!, a Christmas choir concert, is at 6 p.m. Dec. 18. Christmas Eve candlelight services will be at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 24. Christmas morning worship service is 10 a.m. The church is located on U.S. 60 just west of the Franklin County line.
Candelight services at Pigeon Fork Baptist
Pigeon Fork Baptist will be have candlelight service and Christmas carol singing at 11 a.m. on Dec. 18.
Candlelight service at Elmburg
Elmburg Baptist will host a community candlelight Christmas service at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21.
Christmas Eve at Holy Cross
There will be candlelight Christmas Eve service featuring a children’s chorale at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24.
Heavy metal band on New Year’s Eve
The 1980s heavy metal band Hard Rock City will perform at a New Year’s Eve event at the Shelbyville Country Club. Doors will open at 8 p.m., with live music from 9-11:45, featuring covers of music by Journey, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, U2, Guns N Roses, Def Leppard, Pink Floyd, Rush and many more. Finger foods will be provided, and SCC’s restaurant is open for dinner before the party. Tickets are $25 per person or $60 per family in advance, $30 per person at door. For reservations or other information, contact Linda at 502-558-2116.

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Have a holiday event not listed here? E-mail it to sharonw@sentinelnews.com. Items will be published regularly in the newspaper and also posted at www.SentinelNews.com/datebook.