Community Event - Chatham - 'A Confederation Christmas'
An annual historic Christmas show will return to the Chatham Cultural Centre for it’s ninth year on Saturday November 25th, when ‘A Confederation Christmas’ will be presented at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Studio One.
The program, which features old-fashioned storytelling and carol singing in a candle-lit setting, is organized by a local family to serve as a benefit show for the Salvation Army’s food programs across Chatham-Kent.
This year’s theme is Christmas night of 1867. Christmas that year was a joyous time for more than just the Yuletide season. The long process of Confederation was over, and folks were preparing to celebrate their first Christmas as a new country!
The story will be told in three parts. ‘A Smoky Yuletide Surprise!’ tells of a young printer’s apprentice was always fascinated with the new-fangled railroads. Times were tough, and when it seemed like his life was falling apart, he received a wonderful, unexpected gift! In ‘A Beau for Christmas?’ we’ll meet a young lady who’s just learning about love. When she begins to receive Christmas cards from several local chaps, her Father and older brothers have other ideas! Would any of these ‘Seasonal Suitors’ stand up to the men of the family? Finally, in ‘John A’s Happy Happy New Year!’ we’ll catch up with a very weary John A. MacDonald. With the weight of Confederation resting upon his shoulders, he could be forgiven for being too weary to celebrate the holidays. But when an ‘old acquaintance’ makes a surprising return to his life shortly before Christmas, his plans for ‘Union’ become most wonderfully personal!
Between the stories we’ll share some lovely old carols, and finish up with a classic that the whole family will love! Admission is by free-will offering only. Performances are at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Saturday November 26th, in Studio One of the Cultural Centre, 75 William Street North in Chatham. Guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for a chance to win great prizes that have been donated by area merchants. To learn more, or to reserve seats for your family or group, please call 519-436-6220 or email storyteller@mdirect.net
