Searcy Holiday Lights 2004

Marveta Foutch navigates a narrow passage between stacks of Christmas crafts and holiday artwork at her home in Searcy in preparation for the annual Searcy Newcomers Craft Fair.

Across town, detention center trusties Michael Williams and Jay Parrott balance on high ladders as they decorate the bell tower at the White County Courthouse in wreaths and lights.

At the Searcy mayor's office, Belinda LaForce and assistant Jay Shock field calls about the upcoming Christmas parade and downtown Christmas events.

And at Berryhill Park, city workers Wayne Cook, Sam Watson, Al Gaskin and Alvin Farren construct a mock version of Searcy in lights and plastic cylinders.

It's time for Searcy's annual Holiday of Lights festival and dozens of people and organizations are in full swing preparing for the six weeks of events.

The theme this year is "Rockin' Around Searcy," a '50s music theme, Mayor Belinda LaForce said.

This Saturday, Nov. 13, the festival kicks off with two events, the Holiday of Lights Beauty Pageant at the Lightle Center and the 24th annual Searcy Newcomers Craft Fair at the Carmichael Center.

The beauty pageant gets under way at 6 p.m. and features a girls' pageant for ages 1 to 18 and a boys' pageant for ages 1 to 5.

The final day for entering the pageant is Nov. 8, coordinator Betsy Bailey said, and there will be no late entries. Forms can be picked up at Reba's Formal Wear, Ann's Bridal, Big Country 101.5, and at the Carmichael Center. For more information contact Bailey at 501-268-3425.

Marveta Foutch, vice president of the Searcy Newcomers, is responsible for coordinating the much-anticipated annual offering of top-class handmade holiday gifts at this year's Searcy Newcomers Craft Fair.

The fair takes place Nov. 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carmichael Center on Elm Street.

"Every year we try and offer the best of the best of handmade gifts, and this year is no different," Foutch said. "We also offer food the day of the fair, like hot dogs. This year we are having hot kettle corn, pulled pork and one of my favorites, Frito Pie."

The Newcomers Fair features 58 crafter and artist booths offering what Foutch says is the widest selection of handmade holiday gifts in the region. There are Victorian Christmas items, handmade jewelers' works, wood craftsmen specializing in fine writing instruments, clocks and boxes. There are candle makers, artists, quilt makers, and candy makers.

It is a juried show, meaning only the highest quality artisans are accepted to show.

"This year we have crafters coming from as far away as Chicago, Texas and Oklahoma to show their crafts," Foutch said. "And of course all of our local crafters."

The craft fair shares a billing with the annual St. James Catholic Church craft fair just up the road from the Carmichael Center, Foutch said.

On Nov. 20, local attorney John Patterson returns to the Searcy High School auditorium stage for his annual Magic Show. Admission is free.

Nov. 26, the city of Searcy officially hits the lights on all the displays at Searcy parks and at the courthouse. The lights remain lit and open for free tours through Jan. 1.

Dec. 3 kicks off the biggest weekend of the festival, starting with the Dec. 3 production of the play "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Center on the Square dinner theater. (The theater is offering a preview of the play Dec. 2.)

A stage play based on one of the most popular Christmas movies ever filmed, the Searcy production of the play is a joint effort between the Searcy theater and the Gem Community Theater in Heber Springs.

"This is a very large cast and we probably couldn't have produced it without the help of cast members from the Gem Theater," Lana Hallmark of the Center on the Square said. "I directed this play at Searcy High School in 1995 just a couple of years after it was written and it is a good script that retains the gentle quality of the movie."

The play will run through Dec. 19 and reservations are required. For ticket or more information contact the center at 501-368-0111.

Dec. 3 is also the night of the annual Searcy Christmas Parade.

Candy, lights, floats, marching bands, candy, lights, floats, candy, lights floats ... well, you get the picture. The night time parade is one of Searcy's grand traditions, Mayor LaForce said.

The parade will take a different route this year, LaForce said, following essentially the same route as the White County Fair parade. The parade begins at 6 p.m. at Spring Park, travels North on Spring Street then circles West around the square and travels East along Race Street to Berryhill Park.

Entry forms for the parade are available at the Carmichael Center. For more information contact Barbara Hubach at the Carmichael Center at (501) 279-1046.

Dec. 4 is the Searcy Parks and Recreation Craft Fair at the Carmichael Center. The fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features crafts, baked goods, ornaments, art, jewelry and quilting. For booth space information contact the Carmichael Center at (501) 279-1045.

Also on the 4th is the Searcy Old Fashioned Christ-mas Day on the square. The events run from noon until 5 p.m. and feature food, games, hayrides and photos with Santa.

Dec. 7 is the Center on the Square Talent Show.

The election season is over. Now it's time to let the good times roll.