Event to again feature kids’ events, photos with Santa plus live musical entertainment
(Seguin) — One of Seguin’s most favorite and cherished holiday traditions returns this weekend at the Big Red Barn. The Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center will again be opening the doors of its barn for its two-night Country Christmas celebration.
Not only will the property be strung with thousands of twinkling lights but each of the properties of its Heritage Village will also be fully decorated. The event each night invites families over for a slew of holiday music performances, hayrides, an open fire marshmallow roast, kiddie train, live farm animals plus numerous demonstrations including both blacksmith and sausage making. Topping the list of events will, of course, also be free visits with Santa each day from 6 to 8 p.m.
Among those stringing lights in her sleep as they prepare for this weekend is the Big Red Barn’s Kay Willmann. Willmann says if you enjoy lights or simply want to enjoy the ambience of the season than Country Christmas is where you want to be these next two nights.
“We have been hanging lights since the first of November and so we just go building by building and then I drive around in the dark and see what is missing and we hang some more. We have pathways lit with white lights. The buildings are lined with lights inside and out – some of them. The older buildings we tend not to put lights on the Christmas trees because it wouldn’t be period correct but we have lights on the outside because you need light to get in there. Mr. Bartoskewitz, Wilford had his lights up before we did so he has been busy too. We are just about finished with that part and then the Geronimo Lions Club came (on a Sunday) and some of the board members helped us get our trees in the inside lit up and decorated. I think we’ve got about 15 Christmas trees decorated inside of the building between three of the halls. In the Ag wing, we have Hilda Krueger’s Snow Village set up in there with a couple of Christmas trees,” said Willmann.
Adding to the Christmas celebration is the entertainment line-up for this year’s event. Bands, individuals and church choirs from all over are again among the mix in this year’s schedule. That’s according to Board Member Keith Huebinger.
“Some of the newer acts, replacements, we’ve got the Country Church from Marion participating this year in addition to an individual that has agreed to perform this year in the church and again that’s going to be from 5 to 8 p.m. – three different acts each night and in addition to the main Red Barn area where we have some musical entertainment,” said Huebinger.
Friday’s music line-up includes Kirk Herbold & Friends in the Red Barn Main Hall from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Zion Church music schedule includes Dana Smith, pianist extraordinaire from 5:15 to 6 p.m.; Emanuel’s Lutheran Music Ministry from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and The Country Church of Marion from 7:15 to 8 p.m.
Saturday’s Main Hall entertainment will be Bill Gibbons and Gil Merkle from 5 to 8 p.m. Performing in the Zion Church will be the New Braunfels Gemischter Chor Harmonie from 5:15 to 6 p.m.; Cross Church Choir from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and the McQueeney Baptist Church Band and Choir from 7:15 to 8 p.m.
As families enjoy the live music, they’ll also get the chance to take part in a number of special activities. Willmann says there especially will be plenty of activities for the kids.
“We have all kinds of things for kids to do this year. They can make ornaments in the Pecan Museum. We are going to make angels this year. Last year, we made a lot of reindeer, so we are going to make angels this year and I think some snowmen. We set up a couple of photoshoot areas where people if they want to just pose in front of some trees, sit on a bench, they could go in there and take Christmas pictures. It will be early enough to make your Christmas cards. They can decorate cookies over in the Bartoskewitz Farm home. They can make jingle bell necklaces in the Bormann home. They will be doing something in the schoolhouse, the Navarro School House, the lady that does that house as a docent always has some kind of coloring sheets or little craft that she does with kids when they stop in there and I’m not sure what she is doing this year, but she always has something fresh. It is nice,” said Willmann.
Longtime volunteer Ronald Heinemeyer says Country Christmas has probably become the biggest event that the non-profit organization host throughout the year. He says with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Country Christmas provides that opportunity to remember the more simple times while yet still providing a vibrant way to celebrate the season.
“It gives the community an opportunity to come out and just lay back and really enjoy Christmas,” said Heinemeyer.
Country Christmas at the Big Red Barn will be held Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 12. Only cash will be accepted. The Big Red Barn is located at 390 Cordova Rd.