Holiday Festival
Christmas in Brown County

photos courtesy of
Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau

You’ll find the spirit of Christmas in the hills of Brown County during the month of December. The leaves may be gone but their absence reveals the county’s beautiful glacier-carved ridges and hilltops. When the snow falls there is no prettier place.

Brown County’s beauty is reason enough to visit anytime, but the traditional holiday Christmas in Brown County Festival is an event for the ages—and all ages, from kids to coots.

Imagine the village of Nashville decorated with white lights, sprigs of evergreen, strolling carolers in Victorian costumes—sing along, they won’t mind—and you’ll feel the season come alive for you and your family.

On weekends, horse-drawn carriages offer visitors free rides around village streets. Or you can ride with “Frosty and the Elves” on a Nashville Express train trip to the 1850s Christmas at the Pioneer Village Museum. Celebrate with our ancestors the holiday we hold so dear. (Nov. 29, 30; Dec. 7, 8. 11 a.m.–4 p.m.)

The season kicks off on Friday Nov. 29, with the Holiday Open House featuring Santa Claus at the Brown County Visitors Center (noon–7 p.m.) and the Winter Art and Craft Fair at The Seasons Conference Center. (Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.)

Music is an important part of Christmas in Brown County with many special holiday performances.

Nov. 30 features the annual Slats Klug and Friends Holiday Show and Dance at the Brown County Inn. Original and traditional Christmas songs are presented by some of Brown County’s finest home grown musicians. (8 p.m.)

Over 80 Christmas and winter related songs are featured in Pine Box Theatre’s Old Fashioned Christmas. This is the 13th season The Good Time Girls and Guys have performed this popular holiday show, a favorite for all ages. The costumes are delightful, the Gals dance up a storm, and everyone has a good time. (Nov. 29, 30; Dec. 1, 5–8, 13–15. Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun. 3 p.m.; Dec. 5 show at 3 p.m.)

The Christmas Show at the Nashville Follies Musical Theatre features contemporary and traditional holiday favorites filled with fun, joy, and inspiration. (Nov. 29, 30; Dec. 6, 7, 13, 14. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 5 and 8:30 p.m.)

Get in the Spirit with Christmas and the Bells at the Joybell Theater. Kristine Stout will perform a special 60 minute holiday program daily from Nov. 29 through Dec. 16. Watch Kristine as she gracefully handles three octaves of English handbells (37 bells) ALL BY HERSELF!

At T.C. Steele State Historic Site, up the real steep hill outside old Belmont, you can participate in Christmas at the House of the Singing Winds. Find out what Christmas was like in the 1920’s, enjoy the music, help trim the tree, and partake in holiday refreshments. (Sunday the 8th, 1–5 p.m.)

Or if a latte is your idea of the perfect Christmas beverage try Christmas at the Figtree Galley and Coffeeshop in Helmsburg. It’s the beautiful brick building by the railroad tracks and they plan live traditional holiday tunes. (Friday the 13th, 7–9 p.m.)

From the 13th to the 15th there’s a Madrigal Dinner planned at the Brown County Public Library. For information call (812) 988-7303 or (800) 753-3255.

Santa intends to spend a lot of his time in Brown County this season starting with the Artists Colony Inn Porch each weekend afternoon throughout the season. On the 6th Santa arrives on the Santa Train at 6:30 at Helmsburg’s old train depot. Everyone always has a great time singing carols and playing with Rudolph and Frosty while waiting to see Santa.

Breakfast with Santa is on the menu for the 8th at the Brown County Inn. Eat a hearty country breakfast while the kids visit with St. Nick. There will be door prizes. (8:30–noon.)

Santa travels by horse and wagon to Crouch’s Market in Pikes Peak on the 14th at 1 p.m. No one’s in a hurry when they come to see Santa at Crouch’s. Take plenty of pictures.

There’s also the Barn Yard Petting Zoo at the Village Green Gazebo for young and old alike. Meet reindeer, elves, and our barn yard friends. (Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15 from noon–5.)

Also on weekends from noon to 5 p.m. enjoy the Holiday Hay Rides and don’t forget the Children’s Benefit Auction at The Ordinary at 6:30 on the 6th.

There’s Art to be found all month at the Christmas Show at the Brown County Art Gallery and Museum. Winter Light-Polar Light features a holiday collection of small works at the Waldron Gallery. On Dec 7 and 8 turn right at Stone Head on SR 135 to visit the Spears Gallery Holiday Open House for refreshments, pottery, and other crafts. (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Avoid the hectic pace of mall shopping this Christmas and find your special gifts in Brown County where there are more than 300 art, craft, and specialty shops offering unique, one-of-a-kind gift and decorative items. Skip the cooking and dine in our restaurants and then stick around and enjoy a fine holiday show.

For more Christmas in Brown County Festival information or a complimentary brochure contact the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 812-988-7303, 800-753-3255, or visit their web site at <www.browncounty.com>.