Jasper Chamber Releases Information on This Year's O’Tannenbaum Days Celebrations

FROM THE JASPER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / PHOTO: VISIT DUBOIS COUNTY 

JASPER -- O’Tannenbaum Days will be December 6, 7 , & 8, 2019 in Jasper, Indiana.

The huge, lighted Christmas tree in the center of downtown welcomes visitors, relatives, residents and friends to this annual Christmas celebration. Lights will be strung from the Dubois County Courthouse to the tops of the buildings. Many of the downtown businesses also have perimeter lights outlining the tops of their buildings. Shops in the city are ready for shoppers with gift ideas and window displays full of decorations. Potpourri, treats, carriage rides, Santa Claus in his special house, and a large variety of artists and artisans are in the stores and other locations, to greet you with demonstrations of their special skills.

The stores are all ready for you with lots of great ideas for gifts and decorations, featured artists and fun, too.

Members of the Actors Community Theatre will be caroling in the downtown area on Friday evening from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Santa Claus will be in his special house on the courthouse square throughout the entire weekend. He will be there on Friday from 5 – 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon – 3:00 p.m. both days. You will want to bring your camera to photograph your child with Santa Claus. Take advantage of the beautiful community Christmas tree next to Santa’s house and take some pictures of your children, friends, or relatives. This is a great weekend to share with loved ones and a wonderful time to reminisce and to make new memories that will last for years.

Horse-drawn carriage rides are sure to please both young and old during this special weekend. At a starting point in front of Jasper City Hall, on the Square, in downtown Jasper, the carriage will travel north and south for several blocks. There will be one carriage taking passengers on the scenic and historic tour of downtown Jasper. The carriage rides will be available at no cost, although donations are always accepted. The carriage rides will run Friday evening from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., and on Saturday & Sunday afternoons from 12 noon until 3:00 p.m.

You can begin the day early in the morning on Saturday by stopping at three local churches. Attend all three for a large variety of delicious treats! Trinity United Church of Christ begins their Cookie Walk at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday and will continue selling their delicious cookies until 1:00 p.m. They will also have a bake sale. Precious Blood Church will host their St. Nick Bazaar beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. They will have lots of crafts, gifts and home-baked goodies and a cookie walk from 8-1:00. The Precious Blood event continues on Saturday until 5:00 p.m. and then again on Sunday from 8:00 a.m.-12 noon. St. Joseph Church will host a Christmas Bazaar in the Parish Center on Saturday from 8 a.m. to

5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.. Baked goods, cookies, crafts, dolls, turnip slaw, new items, white elephant items, jellies and more.

Krempp Gallery, inside the Jasper Arts Center, on south Third Avenue will feature the

“Mixed Media Art Exhibit” display all weekend. Beautiful artwork from local artists. The Gallery hours are Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon until 3:00 p.m.

The Krempp Gallery is closed on Saturday. Reception for Gallery Artists is Friday from 7-9 p.m.

The Christmas Holiday Bazaar will be on Saturday only from 10-4 at the Cabby O’Neil Gym on 6th Street in the center of Jasper. Over 35 local vendors (crafter & direct sales) will showcase their wares along with Christmas music, food and more. Register to win a $200 cash give-away.

The Dubois County Museum, located at 2704 North Newton St. is open this weekend

on Friday from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from

1 – 4 p.m. Take some time to visit the Dubois County Museum and learn a lot about the history of Dubois County. Have breakfast with Santa on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. (call 812/630-9891 for reservations). You can see many Christmas trees and enjoy numerous Santa’s from the museum’s collections. Come and see the many Christmas trees in the “Dubois County Communities” theme. Strings will perform violin music at 2:00 on Saturday. Delight in the dollhouses and model trains, and enjoy some Christmas shopping in the well-stocked gift shop. Doors open on Sunday at 1:00 for the 1:30 showing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with free popcorn and refreshments. Activities and a Christmas Scavenger Hunt, too.

A guided tour of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the church bell tower will be given on Saturday afternoon beginning promptly at 12 noon and lasting about two hours. Meet at the main doors of the church for an historical tour of this magnificent and beautiful building that is a landmark for Jasper. The guide, Bernie Vogler, will greet you and share some interesting history. There will be no tower tours this year.

Jasper Public Library at 1116 Main Street is joining the weekend activities on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. where you and your children can gather for a special time of stories and singing with Santa Claus. The Jasper Library is also providing a Story-Walk in the windows of the stores in downtown Jasper, beginning the first part of December. Paint Like Bob Ross/Northern Lights on Saturday from 10-2 at the Library Annex. Space is limited. Registration is required and the cost is $50/person. Black canvas event – contact the library for the $10 discount code. www.bendintheroadstudio.com

The Jasper City Mill, by the Patoka River Bridge, will be open throughout the weekend. Go back in time to view the water wheel and grinding of corn into meal. Very interesting and exciting! Great gift items available at the mill, too. Hours: Friday and Saturday, 10-5 and Sunday 12–5:00.

The American Legion Post 147 and its Auxiliary are hosting the 82nd Annual Community Christmas Party – this year on Sunday afternoon - in the Black Gym at the Jasper Middle School. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and Santa arrives at 1:00 p.m. Children will be given a bag of treats when leaving the gym. Santa and several cartoon characters will be available for pictures for a short time afterwards. Music will be provided by the Jasper Middle School band, under the direction of John Coller. Make this event part of your annual family Christmas traditions!

Artists and artisans will display their talents all weekend in many of the stores.

On Saturday, December 7th at 3:00 p.m., The Astra Theater in the SW corner of the Square invites you to follow a young boy’s magical adventure to the North Pole by watching The Polar Express. Get in the spirit of Christmas and wear your pajamas. Rated G. Tickets are $5 each and can be reserved at: www.thenextact.org

Each of the 40+ participating stores and locations will also have guides available, showing where the artists and crafters or special treats will be located and what products they will demonstrate and sell. Those guides are also available at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce at 302 West 6th St. You can also call the Chamber at 812-482-6866 for more information about any of the events that are taking place during O’Tannenbaum Days weekend.

Most of the hotels in Jasper and Dubois County are offering Olde World Christmas lodging packages. Call the Jasper Chamber of Commerce at 812/482-6866 or the Dubois County Visitors Center at 812-482-9115 or 1-800/968-4578 for this information or go to: www.visitduboiscounty.com.

O’Tannenbaum Days is funded through a cooperative effort of the Greater Downtown Jasper Business Association, Jasper Chamber of Commerce and the Dubois County Visitors Center.

Please keep local businesses and authentic art alive in Jasper, Indiana. You are encouraged to support locally and independently owned businesses while enjoying the great festivities of O’Tannenbaum Days!