GO! Hot Springs On The

There is no shortage of holiday traditions in Hot Springs — those classics and those yet to be made by families. I began the season two weeks before Thanksgiving by marrying a wonderful man who is as sentimental as I am about making traditions and memories.

Our wedding at the newly renovated Humphreys Dairy was a simple gathering with family. A wreck on I-30 kept several guests coming from out of state from arriving on time, but the rest of the day, getting to relax and visit made up for it.

The venue is beautiful and the Lewis family has taken extra care in preserving the heritage of the dairy, and if you haven't made the drive down Shady Grove Road to see all the work they have done and are planning to do, I would strongly encourage it.

Our first Thanksgiving proved a bit of a challenge coordinating schedules, but it made way for new traditions to develop which Collin and I hope to continue to do throughout this season. Believe me when I say many of those will revolve around the sights and sounds of winter in Hot Springs.

For music lovers, Anthony Chapel at Garvan Woodland Gardens is the place for carols, hymns, handbells and horns. The venue provides the perfect space for tunes to waft through the garden air as the Holiday Lights display twinkles and glows in the background.

One tradition Hot Springs is very proud of is the annual Red Rose Debutante Ball, now in its 70th year. The spirit of volunteering and charity which the debutantes are known for makes this event the perfect fit for this time of year.

No matter how you plan to spend your holidays, I hope you take time to enjoy those traditions you've long celebrated and continue to look for new ones for years to come.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.