Calendar

for tent flooring, firewood, and souvenirs. Visit the Cravens House to learn about some of the experiences Union and Confederate soldiers and their families experienced after the Battles for Chattanooga. For more information about upcoming programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, please contact the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, or visit the park’s website at nps.gov/chch.

COMMUNITY · The annual candle light tours at the Gordon-Lee Mansion will be Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10, from 6-8 p.m. each evening. The Mansion will be decorated in antebellum period handmade decorations and lit throughout by hundreds of candles. All proceeds go to the Friends of the GordonLee Mansion. Admission is $5 adults and $1 for 12 and under. Contact the Friends at 423-488-0861 for more information or visit Facebook.

COMMUNITY · The annual LaFayette “Old Fashion Christmas” Parade will be Friday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. Lineup for the parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. The parade route will begin at Ace Hardware (512 South Main St.) and travel north on Main Street through the Square turning left onto Margaret Street to the parking lot of the old LaFayette High School to disband. Registration may be done online at cityoflafayettega. org/events/christmas-parade/.

Saturday, Dec. 3

COMMUNITY · The Marsh House of LaFayette invites you to travel back to the 19th Century at the annual Christmas Candlelight Tour event. Set for the first three Saturdays and Sundays of December (December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18), from 6 to 8 p.m., the 1836 antebellum home will be decorated for the holidays. Guests will experience character reenactments, eat delicious refreshments, decorate ornaments they can take home, learn about the history of the Marsh House, and enjoy the historical holiday

atmosphere. The cost is $5 for general admission and $1 for children 12 and under. Website: marshhouseoflafayette.com. For questions and more information, contact Jennie Chandler at 423-994-8485.

COMMUNITY · Bethlehem Baptist Church, 278 Oak Grove, in Chickamauga, will present A Walk Through Old Bethlehem Saturday, Dec. 3 from 6-9 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Please join us at 11 a.m. for church services on Sundays.

COMMUNITY · There will be a Christmas Bazaar Saturday, Dec. 3, at Woodland Village II, 1201 W. North Main Street, in LaFayette (road beside Ledford Pharmacy). Follow the signs to the 400 building, find unique craft items for Christmas decorating and gift giving, plus crafts, silent auction, white elephant sale, bake sale, homemade chili, $3 pint. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate and a donut $1.25. Presented by Simply Senior’s Activity Group.

COMMUNITY · The city of LaFayette and Downtown Development Authority will host the fifth annual Reindeer Run Saturday, Dec. 3. Racers kick off at Joe Stock Memorial Park in LaFayette at 9 a.m. This is a family-friendly event with Santa, elves, hot chocolate and more. Reindeer antlers will be on sale before the race for $1. The money raised goes to fund the 13th annual LaFayette Shop with a Cop/Firefighter program. Local police and firefighters take 30 to 40 kids shopping for Christmas presents for themselves and their families. The event includes a ride to the Walmart store in a fire truck. Early registration will be open through Saturday, Nov. 26. Individual registration is $25 and teams of five cost $100. The cost after Nov. 26, is $30 for the individual registration and $125 for teams. There will be awards for first, second and third place in race categories. For more information call 423-708-4298. Register on the city of Lafayette’s website cityoflafayettega. org under reindeer run or go to lafayettereindeerrun. itsyourrace.com.

Sunday, Dec. 4

COMMUNITY · The Walker County Schools’ Smith Planetarium, 409

Pond Springs Road south of Chickamauga, is presenting the “Season of Light” program again this year. Smith Planetarium will be open to the public Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2:30 p.m. “Season of Light” is a specialty program with an emphasis on astronomical and cultural themes related to the holiday season. The program explores the history, fascinations and customs people have had with light during the onset of winter and with the December holiday season. It is visually rich, culturally inclusive, musically satisfying and a perfect program for an endof-the-calendar-year program. Audiences learn a selection of Northern hemisphere winter constellations, and find out why we have seasons, as demonstrated by the Sun’s path across the sky throughout the year, and the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the Sun. The program recounts the history of cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice - from Christian, Jewish, Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi cultures. It is about Yuletide customs, seasons, solstice celebrations, and the centuries-old traditions of bringing light to a cold and dark time of year. For more information call 706375-7827 or 915-474-6114 or 706-375-3493. No admission is charged for public programs but donations are appreciated.

COMMUNITY · The 29th annual Catoosa County Toy Run will be Sunday, Dec. 4, (rain date Dec. 11). As in years past, the group will meet at 1503 LaFayette Road, in front of Big Lots in Fort Oglethorpe at 2 p.m. and leave at 2:30 p.m. on the run to the Ringgold High School. Those who would like to donate a gift, but are unable to attend the run may leave the gift at First Volunteer Bank in Ringgold or Fort Oglethorpe.

Monday, Dec. 5

COMMUNITY · Cocoa with Santa returns to LaFayette Walker County Library Monday, Dec. 5, from 4-6:30 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for pictures. Bring your camera to capture the magical moments. Children will enjoy cookies, candy canes and cocoa. Cost is $5. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the LaFayette Walker County Library. For more information about events sponsored by the Friends of the LaFayette Walker County Library contact Rachel Oesch Willeford at 706-2008099 or send an email to racheloeschwilleford@gmail. com.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

ENTERTAINMENT · The Boynton Lions Club of Ringgold and the Ringgold Convention and Visitors Bureau will host the Classic Christmas Movies at the Ringo Theater Tuesday, Dec. 6, at the Ringgold Depot. Ice Age A Mammoth Christmas and How the Grinch that Stole Christmas begins at 6 p.m. The Bishop’s Wife starring Cary Grant and Loretta Young begins 8 p.m. Free tickets are provided at the door while they last. Donations to support the efforts of the Boynton Lions Club in Catoosa County are welcome. For more information about the event, call Main Street Manager at 706-935-3061.

MEETING · Alzheimer’s Association will host a MidDay Cafe Tuesday, Dec. 6, from noon-2 p.m. at the LaFayette Housing Authority Community Room, 300 Oak Street, in LaFayette. Featured speaker is geriatric nurse practitioner, Susan Greene. Registration is free, but required. Lunch is provided. Call 800-272-3900.

Friday, Dec. 9

COMMUNITY · To promote the second annual Robert Hitchcox Memorial Blood Drive, the Blood Assurance mobile unit will be at Ridgeland High School Friday, Dec. 9, from 1-6 p.m. and at LaFayette High School Friday, Dec. 16, from 1-6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10

COMMUNITY · Christmas at the Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, in Ringgold will be Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Event includes craft vendors for those last minute gifts or treat yourself to some of the beautiful items for sale. Santa will be coming from 2-6 p.m. Make sure the kids have their lists ready and a big smile for a picture to remember the occasion. Bring the kids or grandkids and enjoy the Christmas movie, “The Muppets Christmas Carol” in the theatre from 6-8 p.m. Free entrance to the event and only $2 to see the movie.

GENERAL

COMMUNITY · Blossman Gas, 1725 N. Main Street, in Lafayette, is partnering with The Care Mission in a holiday “Heat for Hunger” program. Partial proceeds of every residential gallon of propane gas sold from Dec. 1-31 from this store location will go to The Care Mission as part of Blossman’s commitment to help solve hunger in the Lafayette and Walker County, Georgia area. The Care Mission is at 105 North Chattanooga Street, in Lafayette and may be reached at 706-638-3664 or thecaremission.org. If you would like more information about the Lafayette Blossman Gas Heat for Hunger program contact branch manager Gerald Cook at 706-638-2540, stop in the store or go to blossmangas.com.

SPORTS · Winter Volleyball League, LaFayette Recreation Department. Adult, Youth Church and Open Volleyball League. Jan. 8-March 20. $200 per team, space limited. Deadline Dec. 12. Call 706-639-1590.

COMMUNITY · Walker County DFCS is seeking individuals and organizations in the community to help make this Christmas Season a special one for the approximately 174 children from Walker County who are in the foster care system. Sponsors are needed for the Secret Santa program for children in foster care. Each year, DFCS relies on donations from generous citizens and organizations to help fulfill each child’s Christmas wish list. Willing participants may obtain a wish list for a specific child or children to purchase items off the wish list on their own, or can make a monetary contribution so DFCS staff can purchase items for any children who are not sponsored individually. These donations are gathered through November to ensure all Christmas gifts are delivered throughout December to the various locations across the state where these children are placed. To learn more about how to be a part of making this Christmas special for a child in this community, please contact Natasha Christian at 423-355-8097.