Several more local Christmas events planned

Christmastime is here, and there are several events planned in Ozark County to celebrate the season. 

To add your Ozark County holiday event to the list, email  jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com.

• Library Christmas giveaway table (now through Dec. 13) - The Ozark County Volunteer Library is hosting a Christmas table to give away beautiful items. Guests can visit the library to view the items and enter to win the giveaways. The table went up last week and the giveaway will close Dec. 13. The drawings will be 10 a.m. Dec. 14.

• First Christian Church Women's Christ brunch (Saturday, Dec. 7) - The ladies of the First Christian Church invite all area women to their annual Women’s Christmas Brunch. It will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the church, located off Highway 160 in Gainesville. 

• Rocky Top drive-thru Christmas light display (open house Saturday, Dec. 14) - Rocky Top Campground and Cabins, located on Highway 160 near the top of the Tecumseh curves, invites area residents to enjoy its free Christmas light drive-through display from Dec. 1 through Jan. 1, 2025. The lights will be up from dusk to 9 p.m. on weekdays and until 10 p.m. on weekends, weather permitting.  An open house event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Rocky Top, and everyone is invited. There will be soup and cookies available in the clubhouse, and Santa will be there from 5 to 7 p.m.. There will be live music by Billy Wayne from 7 to 9 p.m., and golf cart rides through the Christmas light display throughout the night. The display and open house party are free, but a drop box for donations for the Ozark County Food Pantry is available for those who feel compelled to donate. 

• Grinchmas at Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch (Friday, Dec. 6) - The Grinch will be stopping by Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch Friday, Dec. 6, for a fun Grinchmas night. Guests attending can meet the Grinch in person, take photos with him, play a game and then head into the resort’s conference room where a showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will be played. All guests will enjoy Grinch-themed popcorn and a drink. The cost is $12 per child. Visits will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. with the movie showing at 7 p.m. Reservations required. Call 417-679-3619 to book a spot. 

• Wreath-making workshop at Rockbridge (Saturday, Dec. 7) - Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch is hosting a wreath-making workshop, led by Jen Register, at 2 p.m., Dec. 7. The cost to attend is $50. All supplies will be provided, including fresh pine and cedar. Guests will enjoy a grazing board dinner and festive sangrias while creating a 24-inch wreath to take home. Reservations are required. Call the Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch front desk at 417-679-3619 to book a spot.

• Breakfast with Santa at Rockbridge (Saturdays, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14) - Breakfast with Santa at Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch is being held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. The breakfast is $12 and includes a visit with Santa, reindeer pancakes, juice or milk and a Christmas craft. Reservations are required. Call 417-679-3619 for more information or to make a reservation. 

• Pizza and pajamas with Santa at Rockbridge (Friday, Dec. 13) - Rockbridge Rainbow Trout Ranch is hosting a Pizza and Pajamas with Santa Claus event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. The cost is $12 and includes storytime with Santa, a personal-sized pizza, milk and cookies. There will also be a pizza night special of three slices of pizza and salad for $12. To RSVP, call 417-679-3619.

• Breakfast with Santa at Tecumseh VFD (Saturday, Dec. 14) - The Tecumseh Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a Breakfast with Santa event from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Tecumseh VFD community building. The pancake breakfast buffet event is free, but donations are accepted and will benefit the fire department. Everyone is welcome. 

• Bakersfield Christmas parade and events - Bakersfield is hosting a whole day of Christmas festive fun on Saturday, Dec. 14. The day will open with breakfast with Santa, served from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Bakersfield Elementary School Cafeteria. All proceeds from breakfast will benefit the Bakersfield Class of 2026 Project Grad. A craft show will be held in the high school gym from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature Santa’s Candy Shop and more. The cost to enter the craft show is $2 (those age 13 and under are free). Vendors are being accepted. Booth space is $25. For more information on the craft show, contact Trudy Summers at 417-284-7333 ext. 306 or tsummers@bakersfield.k12.mo.us. The annual downtown Christmas Parade, hosted by Lacee and Chris Bales, will follow, begin at 2 p.m., followed by a 5:30 p.m. Christmas tree lighting. It will be held in the downtown area, as well as “Grub with the Grinch,” a time when attendees can enjoy delicious treats and hot cocoa with the Grinch. That part of the event is hosted by the Festival Committee of Bakersfield. There will be a free clothing giveaway, crafts for all ages, ugly sweater competitions, raffles and more. 

• Operation Christmas Wish (Saturday, Dec. 14) - The Ozark County Toy Drive, which has transitioned into Operation Christmas Wish this year, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Gainesville First Baptist Church’s Event Center (former senior center) on Third Street in Gainesville. Kris Ledbetter and Karla Smith took over organization of the program this year, and it has changed slightly into a hybrid model with the angel tree. Parents who filled out a form to request a specific gift request (under $40) for their child will be able to pick up the gifts at that time. This year, there will also be some pre-purchased gifts for those who did not realize there had been a shift in how the program will operate in the future. For more information on Operation Christmas Wish or how to financially support the program, contact Karla Smith at 417-683-7489 or karlasmith33@hotmail.com. 

• Ozark County’s Shop with a Cop (Saturday, Dec. 14-Sunday, Dec. 15) - The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department is hosting its third annual “Shop with a Cop” event this holiday season. Financial donations are now being accepted. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department, 1818 County Road 806 in Gainesville, with checks made out to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department with “Shop with a Cop” written in the memo line. Children who are selected for the effort will be accompanied by an Ozark County Sheriff’s Department officer to a local Dollar General store where they will be able to pick out gifts for themselves and their family members on Dec. 14-15. For more information or to nominate a child in need for the program, contact the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department at 417-679-4633 (Sheriff Cass Martin, Dispatcher Krista Crisp or Administrator Curtis Ledbetter can help) or Peggy Williams at 417-712-4112.

• Isabella VFW to host free community Christmas dinner - VFW Post #5366 at Highways 160 and HH in Isabella, with help from the AmVets chapter, will serve its annual free community Christmas dinner from noon to 3 p.m. Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25. Facility manager Julie Carson said everyone is invited – veterans and non-veterans alike. For more information, contact the VFW during its regular business hours at 417-275-5008.