Miller Minutes: Make upcoming Butler County events part of your holiday traditions
There are many holiday traditions that involve artistic skill: Christmas caroling, holiday concerts, light up nights, cookie exchanges and even the occasional performance of “The Nutcracker” ballet. All of these have some element of design, music, dance, or a combination of all three and more.
Today, I want to bring to your attention a lesser-known art that becomes useful this time of year: gift wrapping.
This art, though subtle, speaks volumes to the aesthetic attention Christmas spirit bestows on so many people.
In my family, wrapping a gift to perfection is almost more important than finding the perfect gift. There’s a coordination of putting bows to paper, analyzing how ribbons are presented and matched, etc. Presentation is everything, so much so that my father declares a “best wrapped” gift every Christmas morning.
I’m usually the winner of this contest. Family members have started requesting I wrap gifts for them.
I’m not going to divulge my wrapping secrets, but it struck me how the aesthetic of a Christmas gift is taken so seriously. How much of Christmas is about presentation and setting a cozy tone?
This got me thinking: the presents, the lights, the music and the food all make Christmas what it is. In short, the artistry of Christmas is what makes it so magical. Everyone puts forth that little extra effort to give, to help, to recognize each other.
When we reflect on Christmases of the past, there is always a golden glow around them, which I would argue is from that little touch of magic we all seem bewitched by the minute December rolls around.
Go the extra mile this Christmas: to wrap the gift with precision, to give your time or your treasure to a good cause, or to get out and participate in some of the art-focused events going on in and around Butler County. In all respects, I’m sure it will make your Christmas a little more magical.
Thursday
Visit Santa in Zelienople’s Four Corners Park on Halstead Boulevard every day from now until Dec. 23. To see what times he will be home, visit zelieboro.org.
Friday
See “Elf: The Musical Jr.” performed by students of Batavia Music Studios from Friday to Sunday at Butler County Community College’s Succop Theater. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Purchase tickets at batavia-studios.ticketleap.com/elf-jr.
See the Kleeman Brothers perform at Butler Little Theatre, 1 Howard St., starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are available at the door for $15, cash only. Go to facebook.com/ButlerLittleTheatre for more details.
Saturday
Partake in some delectable holiday goodies during the Christmas Cookie Walk put on by All Saints Parish from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at St. Peter’s Hall, 127 Franklin St., Butler. Choose from all sorts of cookies to purchase. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church is also having a Cookie Walk from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church, 201 E. Jefferson St., Butler. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
Zelienople’s Christmas House tour is back for its 31st year on Saturday. Lunch is included in your ticket price of $25. Tickets can be purchased at the Zelienople Historical Society, 243 S. Main St. in Zelienople or by calling 724-452-9457 or 724-452-6471.
Have Brunch with Santa at the Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. There will be pancakes, photo opportunities, a snowball fight, and more! Bring your family down to 2001 Ehrman Road, Cranberry Township to join the fun, and be sure to register at bcfymca.org/events/brunch-santa.
Have cookies with Santa at Butler YMCA, 339 N. Washington St., at either 10 or 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Come dressed in your best PJs and be ready to decorate tasty treats! Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration costs $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. For more information, visit bcfymca-prod.oneeach.dev/events/cookies-santa.
Mars VFW is hosting a holiday craft show to help get you caught up on your shopping! The event lasts from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 331 Mars Valencia Road in Adams Township and will have over 30 vendors. For more information, visit the event Facebook page.
From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Santa will take photos with your pets at the Butler YMCA, 339, N. Washington St. Your pet must be on a leash and have proper vaccinations and licensing to participate. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers, per pet. For more information and registration, visit bcfymca-prod.oneeach.dev/events/paws-claus.
See the next installment of the Keystone Opry concert series at Butler Little Theatre, 1 Howard St., at 6 p.m. Saturday. The bands Middleground, East of Enon, and Young and Blue will be performing. For tickets and more information, visit keystoneopry.com.
If you are interested in your event being featured in Miller Minutes, please email information to news@butlereagle.com.
Molly Miller is an Eagle correspondent.
