Santa to get holiday workout in Putnam County Saturday

Santa Claus will be a busy, busy guy in Saturday in Putnam County.

On Dec. 7 at various locations across Putnam County, you can have breakfast with Santa (twice), visit a cookie sale, have milk and cookies with St. Nick, stroll through a craft show, sip seasonal teas, enjoy dessert and holiday music, and top it all off with a heaping helping of holiday music at the annual gala.

Those involve nine -- count them, nine -- separate public events in Greencastle or Cloverdale within less than 12 hours on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The chaotic Dec. 7 schedule includes:

Santa Claus makes his arrival at the Putnam County Courthouse during the annual Lights of Love ceremony on Monday night.

-- Tri-Kappa Breakfast with Santa at Deer Meadow Primary School in Greencastle from 8-11 a.m. (breakfast served until 10:30) with breakfast, crafts and a visit with Santa included.

-- Holiday Cookie Sale at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church is set for 8 a.m.-noon. Decorated containers will be available in two sizes with a small container for $5 and a large one for $11.

-- The Clothe-a-Child Craft Show presented by Dance Workshop and the Cloverdale Community Clothe-a-Child Committee is slated from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Cloverdale High School auxiliary gym. Open to the public with no admission fee.

-- At the Lieber State Recreation Area nature center, children can share their wish list with Santa over breakfast at 9 a.m. Breakfast is $1 per person. Event is sponsored by the Cloverdale McDonald's and Friends of Cagles Mill Lake.

-- Roachdale Christian Church will be hosting "Milk and Cookies with Santa" from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. All children attending will receive a gift from Santa, a new book and other treats. It a free event and all are invited to attend.

-- Autumn Glen Assisted Living will host a Christmas Tea from 2-3:30 p.m. Tea will be served in vintage cups, with tea sandwiches, teacakes and fresh fruit in the style of a High English Tea. Reservations required (call 653-6999 to make them) as space is limited, but there is no cost for the event.

-- "Just Dessert," a benefit for clothe-a-child, begins at 6 p.m. in the Cloverdale High School cafeteria. Dance Workshop students will perform along with Cloverdale Jazz Band members, Middle School Choir, Cascade Ladies Choir, Melissa Claycomb, Tony Patrick, Hope Evans, students from DePauw, Lizzie LeBrun, Taylor Strong, 2013 Dancing with the Putnam County Stars champs Ashley Clute and Mike Balka plus a special bluegrass band appearance.

-- The 12th annual Community Christmas Choir concert will be performed at the Russellville Community Center at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 (also on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.). The free performance will last approximately one hour.

-- The annual Holiday Gala at DePauw will include two concerts, including Saturday at 7 p.m. (and on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.) in DePauw's Green Center for the Performing Arts. The School of Music will present holiday music with the university choirs, band and orchestra, as well as a host of chamber groups, participating in a festive year-end performance that has become a Greencastle tradition. Saturday will be a full-length concert, followed by a cookie and punch reception.