Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / First Christmas in the Garden brings crowd

First Christmas in the Garden brings crowd

December 3, 2018 by Brian Sweet

The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council hosted its first Christmas in the Garden: A Night on the Polar Express event on Nov. 30 at the Abilene Convention Center in the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden.

Availability for the event closed in the morning due to a high registration rate for the event.

Attendees were sipped on hot chocolate, took photos with storybook characters such as Stuart Little and the Grinch, joined in children’s activities, train rides and visits with Santa.

In preparation for the event, former art & design professor Jack Maxwell painted some of the backdrops that were used on the train ride and former theatre professor Gary Varner choreographed some of the dance routines for volunteers on the train ride.

Sidney Levesque, marketing director for the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, said they created the event because they wanted to add to the City Sidewalks event.

“With all the events that are going on around City Sidewalks we decided since we were decorating the garden and there were activities going on all week downtown, that we should have an event so we created Christmas in the Garden,” Levesque said.

Lynn Barnett, executive director of the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, said she is appreciative of the turnout and the generosity of the volunteers to help put this event on.

“We are thrilled with how the event turned out and have received such positive feedback from the more than 800 people who attended,” Barnett said. “We are so appreciative of our sponsor Perry Hunter Hall, volunteers from the Abilene Christian University and Hardin Simmons University theatre departments as well as the Big Country Home School Association and LYNAY for partnering with us on this community event. Christmas in the Garden is another wonderful example of how arts build community.”

Levesque said they are looking into possibly holding this event next year over two nights due to the high attendance feedback.

“We’re pretty sure we are going to bring this event back next year,” said Levesque. “There’s a possibility we are going make it two nights, it takes quite a bit of volunteer to put on an event like this. I think our volunteer organizer has about 40 volunteers lined up so as long as we can get the volunteers next year, I think we are going to hope to have it at least two nights.”

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • The Bean hosts a teaching kitchen

  • SGA fall budget passes after 17 amendment proposals

  • Gallery: Women’s Soccer takes victory over Tarleton State

About Brian Sweet

You are here: Home / News / First Christmas in the Garden brings crowd

Other News:

  • The Bean hosts a teaching kitchen

  • SGA fall budget passes after 17 amendment proposals

  • Gallery: Women’s Soccer takes victory over Tarleton State

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

14 hours ago

The Optimist
Swing Cats took center stage with their annual event, Fall Stomp, on Friday. Held at the Elks Art Center, this event has become a tradition that brings the past into the present. For more media coverage of this event and others go to acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. ------------------------------------------------------------------#acu #abilenechristianuniversity #fallstomp #swingdancing #jazzbands ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 week ago

The Optimist
The student-run Hispanos Unidos club put together its annual Entra a La Plaza to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Attendees were able to experience authentic Hispanic traditions like traditional Hispanic food, dancing with live music and offered selections from local businesses like Mary’s Paleteria. For more media coverage for this event and others visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio.-------------------------------------------------------------#acu #acunews #HispanicHeritageMonth #hispanosunidos ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved