Chouteau County Christmas set for this weekend

Among the plethora of holiday events going on this weekend, Chouteau County Country Christmas will be lighting up towns from Big Sandy to Geraldine Saturday and Sunday.

Big Sandy’s first of three dates of its Winter Arts and Crafts Fair will be Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Sandy Senior Center, 166 Johannes Ave., and the play production of “Oz” will be showing Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday 3 p.m. at the Big Sandy High School Auditorium.

Fort Benton’s Christmas is set for Saturday, and with a Christmas decoration contest for businesses and homes, the town should have blocks’ worth of viewing along with activities. Several local businesses, along with offering treats, activities, entertainment and specials, are also hosting vendors in their buildings. More than 32 craft and commercial product vendors will be spread among 20 businesses for the day.

The town Tree Lighting begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Old Walking Bridge. The event will include hot chocolate along with live music by the Lucky Valentines and Grant Stebbins. Santa will also be there, as well as at Wake Cup Coffee House earlier that day, 2-3 p.m. Children through sixth-graders will have a chance to buy presents and stocking stuffers at affordable prices between 25 cents to $3, and parents will be served goodies while they wait.

Also for the youth, through fourth-graders, an ornament hunt is taking place from Golden Triangle Brewing Co. to River’s Edge on Front Street from 1 to 3 p.m. The children then meet at Golden Triangle by 3:30 p.m. to have their ornaments counted and prizes will be awarded through third place. Walk-through and drive-through viewings of the Christmas at the Homestead Village will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at Montana Agricultural Center through the fate at 1205 20th St., exiting through the back gate on 21st St.

Shonkin Country Christmas is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Community Hall. Along with vendors and a bake sale, a lunch with choices of stew, soups, dinner rolls and drink will be served.

Virgelle Mercantile and the ghost town will be decorated for the season and serving refreshments from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Loma is hosting an antiques and collectibles sale at U.S. Highway 87 and Fourth Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

And Sunday, the Geraldine Bazaar is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Old Auditorium, with vendors, a kid’s carnival and Indian tacos, along with a visit from Santa Claus at 2:30 p.m.

For more information about any of the events, people can call 1-800-426-2926.