'Olde Tyme Christmas' Family Day features singing, Santa
The Associated Artists of Butler County is hosting "An Olde Tyme Christmas" Family Day from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Art Center, 344 S. Main St.
The center's front window display is themed to resemble a "Macy's window" and includes Santa's sleigh and a toy train circling around the many old-time toys donated or created by AABC members.
Activities will include Christmas singalongs with Brian Sholes and his band of "elfettes" (any young children who want to play tambourines or bongos to accompany him), and pictures with Santa for a donation. Refreshments will be available.
Artist Willie Hobbs, author of the children's book "The Adventures of Sparky-Bittersweet Honey," will be on hand for a book signing.
The Family Day coincides with the AABC's Annual Holiday Show and Sale, which features hundreds of pieces of art, photography, handmade jewelry, post cards and wooden toys.
Ongoing raffles are being conducted for an original Red Ryder BB gun (of "A Christmas Story" fame); the complete toy train set in the window display; the large, handmade Raggedy Ann doll also in the window display and a set of three Christmas-themed Barbie dolls.
The full-sized Santa's sleigh in the front window, which had been used in past Butler Christmas parades, was donated by Green Valley Nursery & Gift Shoppe and is being auctioned off through a silent auction to raise funds for the AABC.
Drawings for the winners will be held New Year's Eve during the Ring in the Arts! gala, for which The Art Center will host performances by Harold Betters and Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers.
The Art Center also is a collection point for the Toys for Tots campaign; guests can bring new unwrapped toys to donate.
