Dateline Wharton
Upcoming events in and around our community

Wharton Farmers' Market

The Wharton Farmers' Market continues this weekend at the Wharton Courthouse Square. The market features garden fresh food and handmade craft items and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon each Saturday through mid-December.

Texas Renaissance Festival

The 8th weekend of the annual Texas Renaissance Festival will feature a Celtic Christmas today and tomorrow, Nov. 24 and 25. The festival grounds will be open 9 a.m. to dusk and are located on Farm-to-Market Road 1774 between Magnolia and Plantersville. This will be the final Festival weekend of the 2007 season and will include a Yuletide scavenger hunt, hot spiced mead and a visit with Father Christmas. For more information, visit online at www.texrenfest. com or contact the festival office at 1-800- 458-3435.

Palacios Main Street market

Palacios Main Street Market Days, a gifts and shopping spree, is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Railroad Park. A second shopping day for last minute gifts and unique items is planned for Saturday. Dec. 22. Both events are sponsored by the Palacios Chamber of Commerce.

BHS blood drive

Boling High School Student Council is hosting a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27 at the Ag Building. Everyone donating will receive a black long sleeve T-shirt. If anyone is interested in making an appointment, call Patti Hubenak at 657-2506.

4-H Poinsettia delivery

The Wharton County 4-H Exchange Program deliver the Poinsettias sold as a fund raiser for the 4-H New Hampshire trip on Wednesday, Nov. 28. For information, call the Wharton County Extension Office at 532-3371.

Ballroom dancing

Ballroom dancing will be held on Fridays, Nov. 30 and Dec. 7 and 14 at the First Presbyterian Church, 1602 John Knox. The charge is $3 per person. Couples and singles are welcome.

Candlelight Christmas

On Saturday, Dec. 1, step back in time to the 1850s with an evening tour of the Varner Hogg Plantation House and experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas. Crafts for the children, such as ornament painting and silhouette making, as well as refreshments will be available. Santa himself will also be present to listen to Christmas wishes and to take photos with visitors of all ages. Tours of the house, given by docents in period dress, will be free to the public from 6-8 p.m. Come and enjoy the beauty of the holiday season with Varner-Hogg. For additional information, contact Angela Pfeiffer at 979-345- 4656 opt. 5, ext. 3.

Halos and Holly

Grace Community Fellowship will be hosting the A.D. Players National Touring Company at a Ladies Christmas Drama and Dessert Party at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3 at Grace Community Fellowship, located at 1900 E. Boling Highway. The A.D. Players will perform "Halos and Holly," which is a collection of short Christmas plays written by Jeannette Clift George. "Halos and Holly" ranges from the solemn to the silly and back again. It compares contemporary Christmas dilemmas such as shopping for a spouse, shopping with a spouse or just shopping period with sometimes warm or poignant reminders of what the first "Christmas" might have been like. Tickets are $10 per person. For tickets or questions, call Lisa Hathway at 979-332-3835 or the church office at 979- 332-3999.

DAV Super Raffle

The Disabled American Veterans of Wharton County will be holding a 100 Gun Super Raffle. Tickets are $20 each with the drawing held Dec. 3. Proceeds will benefit the DAV Chapter 72 Transportation Fund. The raffle is being sponsored by Everyday Heroes Inc. For tickets, contact Bruce Williams at 979-282-9837 or Chester Houston at 979-531-0916.

WISD Christmas Bazaar

The Wharton ISD is hosting a Christmas Bazaar featuring various crafts and holiday gift ideas prepared by the district's Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities and Academics for Life Classes from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the WISD Central Office. During the bazaar, many of the students that prepared the crafts will be singing holiday songs during the sale while the central office staff is providing cookies and refreshments. There will also be a holiday raffle featuring items donated by local businesses.

WCJC Christmas Concert

The WCJC Music Department will present the annual Christmas Candlelight Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6 at the First Baptist Church in Wharton. The WCJC Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will be joined by the Sivells Third Grade Choir and a community handbell choir. This is a Center for the Arts Presentation. The concert is free to the public.

Boling Christmas Parade

The entry deadline for this year's Boling Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 8. The parade is hosted by the Boling Fire and Rescue Department and Ladies Auxiliary and scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15 on Texas Street in Boling. After the parade, Santa will be at the Boling Fire Station for photos and refreshments will be served. For more information, call Lee Mrunstik at 979- 657-8716.

B&G Club registration The Boys & Girls Club of Wharton is now registering for the 2007-2008 After-School Program. Membership fee is $20 per person and operating hours are from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The club is open for kids ages six to 12 and is open until 7 p.m. for teens.

East Bernard Masonic Lodge

The East Bernard Masonic Lodge No. 817 meets the third Thursday of each month. There is a meal, open to the public, served starting at 6:30 a.m. with a lodge only meeting at 7:30 p.m. The lodge building is located at 715 Morris St. in East Bernard.For more information, call Michael McKinnon at 713-542-1148.

Community Calendar

A calendar of local events is maintained by the Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture. Before scheduling an event, check with the chamber for possible conflicts. And notify the chamber, 532-1862, as early as possible to get your event on the calendar. There is no charge.

Dateline Wharton is a calendar of upcoming events in Wharton and surrounding communities. Normally space permits only events that will occur in the next two weeks. It is intended for special activities open to the public rather than regularly recurring meetings.