Madison has big Yule events

This holiday season, residents will be treated to more than just the sweet-smelling wreaths that typically brighten each corner of Main Street in downtown Madison.

A new contest – sponsored by the Brightwood Ruritan Club – aims to fill the town with an abundance of holiday cheer. All town residents and businesses are invited to participate in the club’s first annual Christmas Door Decorating Contest.

Club member Judy Seale decided to revive the tradition, which a different Madison group used to sponsor years ago.

“We used to have it in Madison a lot, I remember decorating for the Madison Senior Center and winning first prize,” Seale told The Eagle.

Participants are asked to decorate their front doors centering on the theme, “Let Freedom Ring.” Seale chose the patriotic theme since the recent election is likely fresh on everyone’s mind, she told The Eagle.

Door decorations can include a variety of items, such as flags, bells or other ornamental items, as well as greenery and fresh fruit.

“Any greenery used must be made of evergreens grown within the state of Virginia, including boxwood. If fruit is used in any way, it must be real,” according to an event organizer.

Seale hopes that participants use fresh items from their backyards or local grocery stores, orchards or farms.

“We wanted something easy [for people] to go out and pick in their backyard or go to the local grocery store and get, rather than having to go out and buy a bunch of stuff,” Seale said.

Decorations must be complete by Friday, Dec. 12 and judging will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners in the contest.

Contest registrations must be received by 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12.

To register, write to Door Decorating Contest, P.O. Box 262, Madison, VA 22727, or register over the phone by calling (540) 543-2397. Participants may leave a voicemail message or send a letter with their registration information, which should include the name of the resident or the business, a contact person, a phone number and the street address.

Those who decorate their doors early will spruce up Main Street in time for the town’s annual Christmas celebration set for Saturday, Dec. 6.
The day begins with a 9:30 a.m. lighting ceremony of the approximately 35-foot red spruce tree in the park in front of the War Memorial Building on Main Street in downtown Madison.

As usual, the event will include free hot chocolate and cookies. In addition, “Singer Preacher” Dr. Tommy Palmer, pastor of Fairview Christian Church in Hood, will lead a round of Christmas caroling. Music sheets will be available so the entire crowd knows the words to sing along.

Following the tree lighting, event attendees will be treated to the sounds of the award-winning Madison County High School band as the town’s annual Christmas parade rolls through Main Street starting around 10 a.m. The parade – whose theme is “A Madison Christmas” – will begin at the south end of town at the Early Learning Center and proceed to the “north pole” at Waverly Yowell Elementary School.

“We’re encouraging all businesses and everybody to be in the parade, it’s growing each year,” said town Vice Mayor Nancy Knighting, who is one of the event’s organizers.

Line-up for the parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. No entry fee is required. Organizers advise that candy throwing and siren blasting are both prohibited during the parade.

To register for the parade or for information, call Madison Chamber of Commerce Director and Tourism Coordinator Tracey Williams at (540) 948-4455.
Town representatives suggest that attendees bring along some gifts to donate to the annual toy drive for needy Madison County-area children. New or like-new donated toys should be left unwrapped.

Drop off locations for gifts include the chamber of commerce office and inside the giant stocking labeled “Polly” on the front door of the Arcade museum in downtown Madison.

Following the parade, festival goers can explore town and discover Main Street’s many special decorations and local businesses.

Beasley Park will include festive adornments, including strings of solar-powered outdoor Christmas lights wrapped around the park’s archways, according to Knighting.

The lights give off a “snowy”-looking, blue-gray light, which will make the park “look like you’re entering a fairy land,” she said.

Downtown businesses, including Greenscapes Nursery and Garden Shoppe at 531 Cedar Hill Road in downtown Madison and The Last Nickel at 206 S. Main St. will host special open house events during the day.

“You can shop locally and save on gas,” Knighting told The Eagle.

Madison’s holiday celebrations will continue on the following week with the Madison County Historical Society’s annual holiday open house at the Kemper Residence, set for 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

The historical society hosts the open house event each year, garnishing the historic Main Street home with festive decorations and treating visitors to cookies and hot cider, according to Jane Volchansky of the historical society.

Madison County residents Hannah and Ethan Wagner will provide cello and violin music throughout the event.
“They play beautifully together,” she said.

Those who attend will also get a look at the Kemper Residence’s new paint job, which was completed earlier this month.
“It looks so much better,” Volchansky said.

Make sure to check The Eagle’s Community Calendar, within each print edition and on-line at www.madison-news.com, for the many other exciting events set to take place in Madison County throughout this holiday season.