Versailles Christmas event moves to daytime

An annual holiday tradition returns to downtown Versailles Saturday with Christmas on the Square.

Sponsored by the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce, Christmas on the Square is held from noon to 5 p.m., the first time the event has been scheduled during the day since chamber office manager Mignon Dureka has been involved during the last six years.

Dureka said the event begins with the arrival of Santa Claus aboard a local department's fire truck. He will then set up shop at a new venue this year: the Morgan County Museum at 120 N. Monroe St.

"We expect about 200 kids to visit with Santa," Dureka said. "The museum also has an 1880s sleigh on display. This way, parents can also have pictures of their kids and families taken by the historic sleigh. They can also wander through the museum, which is quite large and full of wonderful exhibits."

Visitors can also bid on a variety of items available through the chamber's silent auction at the museum.

More than 20 food and craft vendors will be lined up on Monroe Street and in the downtown area during the event. The Morgan County R-2 School District children's choir will perform during the event, and a pumpkin-style carriage will take guests on free rides through the downtown area.

Dureka said the event activities are free. However, organizers are still looking for candy sponsors and silent auction items, with many already donated by participating vendors.

"We have about 110 pounds of candy that we put in individually wrapped bags that Santa hands out to visiting children, along with a stuffed animal," Dureka said. "Our candy sponsors help make sure each child gets a present from Santa, and our silent auction items help raise funds for chamber programs and services. This is our last big fundraiser for the year."

Dureka expects the ninth annual event to be another success, and she hopes the now daytime activity will bring in even more families to Christmas on the Square.

"Much like our annual Apple Festival, everyone is involved locally, including the police, firefighters and many others," she said. "It truly is a community event, and a great time for children to start thinking about Christmas and being a part of the community themselves."

For more information about Christmas on the Square, call the Versailles Chamber office at 573-378-4401 or visit VersaillesChamber.com or the organization's Facebook page.