Things To Do: Holiday Market, Living Young Activities, Sherlock Holmes Theater, Yule Run, & Christmas Parade

Holiday market to usher in holiday season on Nov. 9

By Sherry Lucas

     Frost may have yet to nip at noses by the time Clinton’s Olde Towne Holiday Market brings a shopping frenzy to the brick streets on November 9, but that will still be a clear clue that Christmas is coming.

     Still early, yes, but inhale deeply, and one might catch a whiff of pine and peppermint in the air.

     “Something is changing,” Main Street Clinton Events Associate Jackie Massey said. “It’s not Thanksgiving, it’s not Christmas, but there’s anticipation in the air. We had a fun time together in the community with Halloween, and there’s a festive mood and just anticipation that something is going to happen.”

     “Since we’re not getting as many hints from the environment, we’re trusting it’s going to get cooler,” she said, with a chuckle. The holiday season is on its way.

     The Holiday Market is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 — an hour longer than the other markets throughout the year, to accommodate the larger number of vendors and heftier crowds that make this market Main Street Clinton’s biggest of the year.

     “All of the items are handcrafted, and many of them are from local artisans from Clinton or nearby,” said Main Street Events Assistant Kim Smith. They will have woodworking, pottery, bath and body items, candles, fine art, jewelry, monogrammed and sewn items, cottage foods, holiday-themed decor and more.

     Artisans go through an approval process and are hand-selected to be in the market.

     “We have some very high-quality craftsmen, who are engaging the attendees, particularly in the fine arts,” Massey said, from very nice handcrafted jewelry to outstanding woodworking. A range of price points promises to accommodate shoppers seeking both thematic holiday door hangers to fine gifts for art lovers.

     “Every market has a lot of the same types of items — it’s just that this one has more of it,” Smith said. The market’s eighty to one hundred vendors typically draw thousands to the Olde Towne Market, on the hunt for unique gifts, stocking stuffers, holiday fun and the festive spirit that heralds the holiday season.

     Several food trucks will be on hand, and Olde Towne restaurants — 303 Jefferson, The Bank, Coach’s Creamery, Brick Street Pops and Sweets, Meme’s Bakery and Cups — are ready to fill refreshment needs, too.

     “It’s just right there in the thick of things,” Smith said. Lemonade and kettle corn will be available, and cottage food vendors, as well, will have take-home treats to tempt.

     Plus, in addition to all that market shopping, Olde Towne shops will be open and catering to shoppers’ needs.

     Parking on the market perimeter may be hard to come by on market day, so shoppers may want to dodge the hunt and frustration by parking at areas that are just a short walk away from all the action, at the Olde Towne Depot parking lot on East Leake, the lot adjacent to Lions Club Park or the lot behind First Baptist Church.

Living Young plans diverse activities for November

by Emma Ellard

     Good eats, handmade treats, meet-and-greets, and more are on the Living Young events calendar for November. Living Young, a community engagement program for those aged fifty and over, sponsored by the City of Clinton’s Therapeutic Recreation Department, is bringing several events to Wood Activity Center on Clinton Boulevard as the 2024 holiday season kicks into gear.

     The month’s foodie events include a meet and greet at Santa Fe Grill on November 8 and a fall potluck and recipe swap on November 15, events beginning at 11:30 a.m. on both days. The meet and greet will be an informal, RSVP-free event. Those hoping to participate in the potluck and recipe swap will be a bit more involved. RSVPs are required; participants should submit the name of the dish they plan to bring at the time of reservation and submit their recipes by November 8. All dishes must be homemade.

     Crafters will feel right at home on Living Young’s November calendar, too. On Wednesday, November 13, at 2 p.m., crafters can get involved with a service project for Baptist Hospice. Participants will be making hand towel teddy bears for hospice patients. Two crocheting classes will be held on November 14 and 20, set for 1 p.m. on both days. Crafters are urged to reserve their spots at any of the crafting events around a week in advance.

     In the spring, Main Street Clinton will be reprising their annual Yarn Bomb project; information on how to get involved with the project will be presented at a Yarn Bomb informational session on the same day as the potluck, November 15, at 11:50 a.m.

     To end November on an inspiring note, Living Young will host a Soul Surfer movie screening on November 25 at 1:30 p.m. Those interested are asked to reserve their seat ahead of the event.

     Living Young will also continue their regularly scheduled events, such as their weekly exercise programming, as well as the Vet to Vet Café, which gives veterans an opportunity to gather and enjoy light brunch. November’s iteration of Vet to Vet Café will also feature a special veteran pinning ceremony. It will be hosted on November 18 at 10 a.m., and RSVPs are required to attend.

     All events, except for the meet and greet at Santa Fe Grill, will be held at the Wood Activity Center, located at 111 Clinton Boulevard.

     More information on registration, as well as other community programs and Living Young offerings, can be found by visiting www.clintonms.org/therapeutic-recreation or by contacting program director Chandra Broomfield by phone at 601-924-6387 or by email to CBroomfield@ClintonMS.org.

Sherlock Holmes play set for November 21-24

Special to The Clinton Courier

     The Brick Street Players (BSP) are leaving Skid Row behind and heading to Baker Street for their next production.

     In their first partnership with the Mississippi College Department of Communication, the Players will present Sherlock Holmes and the First Baker Street Irregular, by Brian Guehring.

     Sarah Hankins, BSP board member and theatre instructor for both MC and Clinton High School, will direct.

     The show, a family-friendly mystery, will combine the talents of students from Mississippi College as well as members of the surrounding community.

     The community is encouraged to save the dates for the show, which is set for November 21-23 at 7 p.m., with a special matinee showing at 2;30 p.m. on November 24.

     Tickets are available at cbsp.booktix.com, and residents can follow the Brick Street Players on Facebook (Brick Street Players) or Instagram (brickstreetplayersclinton) for more information. Performances will be held at the Entergy Theatre in the Gore Arts Complex at Mississippi College.

With costumes encouraged, Yule Run registration continues

by Emma Ellard

     The morning of Clinton’s 50th annual Christmas parade, the Clinton Chamber of Commerce will help the city kick off the day with another holiday event: the Yule Run.  This year will mark the seventh year of the race, presented by Continental and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.

     The Yule Run, which starts at 7 a.m. on December 7, is designed to allow participants to have time to complete their events and be able to settle into their seats before the parade begins at 10 a.m. The race will wind through Clinton’s historic Olde Towne district into the heart of Clinton’s annual Christmas parade route, which runs along Clinton Boulevard.

     This year’s Yule Run is themed after the beloved Christmas classic Elf, so participants are encouraged to dress in their best festive attire or Buddy the Elf homage.

     Participants of all ages are welcome to join any of the race options, which include a 5k walk, a 5k run, and an 8k run. Virtual options are also available for all events, for those who can’t make it to the official route on December 7.

     Those who wish to participate can register for the race on the Yule Run’s official race signup page, which is linked on the homepage of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce’s official website. Registration for any of the events, including the virtual options, is $35. The price will increase after November 7.

     As an incentive to get registered on time, those who sign up for the Yule Run before November 7 will receive race shirts, finisher medals and swag bags, which they can collect on December 6 at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce office, located at 100 East Leake Street, or on race day at the registration tent.

     More information can be found at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce website and Facebook, or by contacting the Chamber. They can be reached by phone at 601-924-5912 or by email at info@clintonchamber.org.

50th annual Christmas parade set to roll Dec. 7

By Emma Ellard

     On December 7, Clinton will be celebrating fifty years of the Clinton Christmas parade. The parade will take to the streets at 10 a.m. with a theme of “Making Spirits Bright for 50 Years.”

     One of Clinton’s most enduring and beloved traditions, the parade brings together Clinton locals from all walks of life to ring in the holiday season together. Members of every sector of the community have been represented in past parades, including local businesses, community involvement groups like Cub Scouts and public servants like the Clinton Fire Department. Additionally, Clinton’s many students, hailing from Clinton’s schools, Mississippi College, Hinds Community College and more get a chance to walk the route.

     Mississippi College junior Lily Meadows has been involved in the Clinton Christmas parade as a member of the MC Color Guard since being a college freshman. She recalls her experience with the parade fondly.

     “I think it’s a big event for Clinton, because we want everyone in the area to feel involved and loved, and I think the Christmas parade does that in a wonderful way,” Meadows said.

     Meadows hails from Alabama. As a non-native of Mississippi, she says she loves that the local parade is welcoming to all.

     “It’s a time where the community as a whole – not just MC students or local businesses, but everybody, in-state or out-of-state – can come together and spend a moment or two cultivating happiness,” Meadows said.

     It is not too late for members of the Clinton community to register to be in this year’s parade. Those hoping to participate should fill out the parade registration form, located on the Clinton Chamber of Commerce website. Applications to be in the parade cost $25 until November 22. After that, entries will be considered late, and the price for applying will increase to $35.

     More information can be found at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce website and Facebook, or by contacting the Chamber. They can be reached by phone at 601-924-5912 or by email at info@clintonchamber.org.