Mizzou for the Holidays
by Constance Berneking, posted Dec. 7, 2008
With the first semester winding down, students are beginning to concentrate on studying for finals. To survive this stressful time, Columbia provides some cheerful holiday events for everyone to enjoy.
The Living Windows Festival is on Dec. 5 in The District. Local boutiques and stores create live window displays for shoppers to enjoy. There will be carolers, a Santa Claus at First National Bank and holiday treats. Hayrides will be offered through downtown from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Some businesses in The District will hold open houses with hot cocoa, cider and cookies. This is a free family event that can help shoppers get a jump-start on their holiday purchases.
Sip and Shop is another event held in The District on Saturday, Dec. 6, for Inside Columbia Magazine. Participants can enjoy hot chocolate and other holiday-themed drinks while shopping from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. To participate, a Sip & Shop Passport must be purchased for $15 from www.InsideColumbia.net. All participants will also receive discounts from various stores downtown. The Coyote Hill Christian Children’s Home will receive a portion of the proceeds.
A unique holiday sight is the Magic Tree. The tree is a 40-year-old Crabapple about 30 feet tall and equally wide. There are a total of 76,035 individual lights covering the tree. Hundreds of strings of lights are wrapped around the branches of the tree. The Magic Tree is located in south Columbia near the end of Forum Boulevard, off of Old Plank Road. If it is on, you can't miss it. Viewing the tree is free but donations are welcome.
To see a holiday light display, there are a few places around Columbia to visit. The Lake Holiday Light Displays has four drive-through light displays located near the Lake of the Ozarks. St. Patrick Festival of Lights is open from 6 p.m. to10 p.m., and Versailles Unity Circle of Lights and Enchanted Village of Lights is open from dark until midnight. These parks are free to enter; the displays feature decorated trees and animated Christmas scenes. The fourth display, Lake Holiday Light Park, has over 80 giant animated displays and the entrance fee is 10 dollars per car.
For more information, visit the festival Web site at www.lakeholidaylights.com.
