PRESS RELEASE: 12 Reasons why Independence, MO should be your Heritage Holiday HometownNEWS Release

[Janeen Aggen]

NEWS Release                               Contact:                 Janeen Aggen

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                                                                                     913-599-2080

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TWELVE REASONS WHY INDEPENDENCE SHOULD BE YOUR . . .

 Heritage Holiday Hometown

          “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me. . . . “ Just as the song says, we can think of a different present Independence offers for each of those twelve days of Christmas!

1.         Shop the quaint shops, decorated up in their finest, and dine in one of the fragrance filled restaurants on the historic Independence Square during the Holiday Open House, Friday and Saturday, November 4 and 5.

2.         Get your Santa Fix early at Santa’s Winter Wonderland in Bass Pro Outdoor World, beginning Saturday, November 5 and running through December 24. Score a free 4 x 6 photo of your child on Santa’s lap, play games, make simple crafts, watch trains and more. Details at www.basspro.com.

3.         Santa also holds court across the street at Independence Center Mall from Saturday, November 5 through December 24. Saturday, December 3 is the morning that kids can dine with Santa at the Breakfast with Santa, free for Kids Club members. 

4.         Do handcrafted gifts and décor make your heart beat a little faster? Then don’t miss the two day “Best Little Arts and Crafts Show” on Friday and Saturday, November 18 and 19 at the Sermon Community Center.

5.         You can also visit with Santa, hop on a cherry red mule drawn sleigh to circle the historic Jackson County Courthouse, join in cookie decorating, face painting and other children’s activities, then watch dancers and sing along with your favorite carols at the Independence Square Christmas Lighting on Saturday, November 19.

6.         Tour the festively decorated 1859 Jail and Marshal’s Home, Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Vaile Mansion during the Spirit of Christmas Past Heritage Homes Tour. Doors open for tours on the Friday after Thanksgiving and don’t close till December 30 (except December 23-25). See them in the magical glow of early evening hours during the Sunday, December 4 Twilight Tour. The decorated Chicago and Alton 1879 Depot also offers tours, but on a more limited schedule.

7.         Get into the mood of a frontier style Christmas at the National Frontier Trails Museum, with refreshments, covered wagon rides, festive decorations and gift shop specials during the  December 3 Holiday Kickoff. Learn about Christmas in the West on December 1, 8 and 15 gallery walks. Live pioneer era music and treats welcome families for their Holiday Cheer events on December 10 and 17.

8.         Turn your kids loose to play carnival games, jump on a moonwalk, get their faces painted and visit with Santa all morning at the Mayor’s Holiday Carnival on Saturday, December 3 at the Sermon Community Center. As a bonus, it’s a freebie!

9.         Nothing says Christmas more than toys, and the Puppetry Arts Institute is staging the original puppet show “Treasures from Toyland” on Saturday, December 3, 10 and 17, with two performances each day. Or, if history is your thing, stop in at the Truman National Historic Site Visitor Center any day from November 15 through January 10 daily to see a free exhibit, “From Tops to Trains: Toys from the Truman Home”

10.       You can also tip your hat to President Harry S. Truman and his family by visiting his home to hear tales of how the first family celebrated the season Harry referred to as “the Great Home  Holiday”, or plan to catch a special “Christmas at the White House” program at the Truman Library on Saturday, December 10. Visit with Harry at the Library on November 25 and 26 and December 26.

11.       What’s a bigger thrill than live entertainment – by kids and for kids? Come along for an enchanting journey into the imagination of “Dr. Doolittle”, the beloved children’s book. The Children’s Performing Theater presents this show December 2-4 and 9-11 at the Sermon Center. For free fun, the Mid Continent Public library has booked  Mr. Stinky Feet on December 1, Jim “Two Crows” Wallen on December 3 and the  Cool Cats and  Santa With a Tune, both slated for December 8. Don’t forget the free Community Christmas Concert, featuring hundreds of school children, area choirs and other music at the Community of Christ Auditorium on Sunday, December 4. Proceeds benefit the Community Service League

12.       Thrill the winter sports fans in your family during the holidays by planning a night out cheering on the Missouri Mavericks CHL hockey team as they score another goal at the Independence Events Center. And circle December 20-24 and 26-30 on your calendar for another not-to-be-missed outing: family skating in a winter wonderland on the Centerpoint Ice at the Events Center, complete with holiday music, lights and decorations, hot cocoa and skating appearances by Santa.

                        For a complete listing of holiday events, accommodations and discounts, call

 Independence Tourism at (800)-748-7323, [phone] or go to www.visitindependence.com,

where you can also view our interactive holiday brochure.

 

[Darryl Musick]

Great place to visit, loved it when we were there.