ALPINE – Award-winning author Elizabeth A. Garcia and The Back Room present a stimulating program on How a Mystery Weekend Works!
All are invited to attend this open meeting from 3-5pm Saturday, December 16 at West Texas National Bank, conference meeting room, on the Fifth Street side, 101 E. Avenue E.
Learn the secrets of Special Event Mystery scripting, settings, character development and casting! Contact 432-538-9020.
PRESIDIO – This holiday season, come join us at Fort Leaton’s annual Posada celebration beginning at 5pm on Wednesday, December 20.
Watch a re-creation of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter by local student docents from Presidio High School. Warm yourself around a bonfire as we enjoy holiday goodies together.
This year we welcome back Ratabachi, the Folkloric dancing group from Presidio High School.
We will also have a piñata for the children, and an appearance by Santa Claus, who will be passing out Christmas goodie bags! Entrance fees are waived for this event, hope to see everyone there!
Fort Leaton State Historic Site is located east of Presidio on FM 170. Information: (432) 229-3613.
PRESIDIO – Presidio ISD police officers are requesting help for the Blue Santa program.
Blue Santa is a program in which law enforcement officers seek help from the community to help less fortunate families and children during the holidays.
PISD Police Officers will fundraise to purchase warm clothing, shoes, heaters, food and other basic necessities as well as Christmas toys for the children.
PISD Staff, Presidio County Sheriff’s Office, US Border Patrol and US Customs have supported this program throughout the years.
Everyone can help by donating gifts such as shoes, shirts, jackets, sweaters, gloves, beanies, toys or other gifts.
PISD will also take names of families or children from Presidio, Shafter, Ruidosa, Candelaria and Redford that could benefit from Blue Santa.
To help or for more information and instructions on how to sponsor, please contact PISD Police Chief Joel Nuñez, Jr. or Officer Michelle Castillo at 432-229-1164.
MARFA – The Marfa Police Department is hosting a toy drive to provide holiday gifts to local families and children in need. Chief of Police Estevan Marquez and his team of peace officers are coordinating the effort to ensure that all local kids receive gifts during the upcoming holiday season.
New, unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the Marfa Police Department at 113 South Highland Avenue (next to City Hall) November 28–December 22. Officers will wrap and deliver gifts on December 23.
The police department will also set up a collection box for toys at the Jingle Bell Ball, hosted by the city, at the USO building on Saturday, December 9.
For more information, contact Chief of Police Estevan Marquez at (432) 729-1841 or Mayor Ann Marie Nafziger at (432) 295-0048.
FORT DAVIS – Naughty? Or Nice? You’d better watch out! Because Santa Claus is coming to town! Saturday, December 9. Santa will lead the parade in the annual Frontier Christmas tradition. Then he will be available for photos at the Jeff Davis County Library.
Frontier Christmas, an annual tradition put on by the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce and community members begins at the Davis Mountains State Park with a Cookie Walk and crafting at the Interpretive Center from 11am until 3pm. Then join the Overland Trail Museum for free admission and refreshments from 3-5:30pm. Later in the evening, local officials will lead the parade with Santa on-board at 6pm down State Street followed by activities at the Kelly Pavilion and Photos with Santa at the Jeff Davis County Library.
Hay rides through Historic Fort Davis to see holiday decorations will be available immediately after the parade. Hay Rides will pick up and drop off behind the Chamber of Commerce at the Kelly Pavilion. Attendees can snack on hot dogs, hot cocoa and cookies from the traditional Holiday Cookie Bake-Off. The Fort Davis Elementary School students will perform at 6:30pm followed by local band, The Texas Vipers.
The community is encouraged to get involved by entering various contests including the Holiday Cookie Bake-Off, Parade Float, and business and/or residential Holiday Decorating Contests.
People interested in competing in the Holiday Cookie Bake-Off should deliver 2 dozen cookies to the Chamber office on Saturday by 5:30pm. The cookies will be judged at 6:30pm with prizes awarded at 7pm.
Businesses and individuals that want to enter their décor should email info@fortdavis.com with their address or stop by the Chamber office. Judging will be final on Friday night, December 8th with prizes awarded at 7pm.
Parade floats will line up at 5:30pm at the Catholic Church Parking lot. The float winner will be announced at 7pm.
Details about Frontier Christmas can be found on the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page @FortDavisChamberofCommerce. For information about up-coming events in the Fort Davis area, visit our website at www.fortdavis.com.
MARFA – Put on your dancing shoes, the whole town is invited to the City of Marfa’s Jingle Bell Ball! The community-wide celebration includes a free holiday dinner, dessert potluck, canned food drive, silent auction, and dance hosted by Mayor Ann Marie Nafziger and city staff this Saturday, December 9 at the USO building.
Festive attire is encouraged and dinner begins at 6:00 pm. Tamales by Officer Gil Carillo and chili verde con carne by Delfin Lopez will be served, with sides prepared by city staff and council members. Folks are welcome to bring beverages of their choice; water and iced tea will be available. Please bring a dessert to share.
There will be plenty of activities for kids under the direction of local artists and educators Michael Roch and Adele Powers of Chinati Foundation, from 6 – 7:30 pm. Burt Compton, of Marfa Gliders and the Moondogs, will lead willing participants in Christmas carols. (Not to worry, he’s got song lyrics in case you don’t know all of the verses and has lots of jingle bells for accompaniment.)
Marfa Public Schools’ very own Ballet Folklorico will perform at 7:15 pm, with traditional music and dancing. Santa Claus arrives at 8:00, escorted by Marfa Police Chief Estevan Marquez. Those who like can share their wish list or have pictures taken with Saint Nick.
DJ Lesley Brown Villarreal will start the dance music around 8pm. Count on council member Brit Webb, who reportedly just bought a brand new pair of dancing shoes, to keep things lively on the dance floor until 11pm.
Please note, all events are free of charge, with a suggested donation of non-perishable food items for the Marfa Food Pantry. A donation area will be set up in the USO entrance with Mayor Pro-Tem Manuel Baeza and Council Member Genevieve Bassham collecting canned food and other items.
Suggested items to donate include canned fish or meat; peanut butter; canned vegetables (especially corn, beans, and green beans;) and dried pasta or rice. There will be a silent auction table with overnight stays at local hotels, gift cards, and items from over twenty local businesses available for bid, with all proceeds benefitting the Food Pantry.
For more information, call City Hall at 432 729 3158.
FORT DAVIS – There is still time to obtain tickets for the tours of historic homes in Fort Davis planned for this Saturday, December 2nd.
You won’t want to miss seeing the four beautiful private residences lined up for the event. Sponsored by the Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library, the program begins at the library in Fort Davis with an historical overview by Lonn Taylor at 1 p.m.
The tours then proceed to the four sites for specially arranged ‘inside views’ at the home and garden of Larry and Beth Francell, built by C.E. Miller in 1884; the Trueheart mansion of 1898 owned by Lanna and Joe Duncan; the Grierson-Sproul house 1903, courtesy of King Land and Water; and the Old Schoolhouse 1903-4, the residence of Steve and Carla Kennedy. Each is unique and a significant chapter in Fort Davis’ history.
Tickets at only $10 each or $15 per couple are available for purchase at the library or online by visiting the Friends’ secure website, www.friendsjdcl.org. All proceeds benefit the Nancy Robinson and Bryan Woolley Memorial Scholarship Funds. The program will conclude at about 5 pm in the Hotel Limpia with live music and light refreshments. Sponsors are still requested for the event; details may be obtained by calling Friends President, Jeanine Bishop at 249 1024. This promises to be a great event so be sure to save the date to enjoy the magic of the Davis Mountains.
FORT DAVIS – The Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce and Fort Davis National Historic Site will hold a special Veteran’s Day Service to honor the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces at 5pm Saturday, November 11 at the Fort Davis National Historic Site.
The ceremony will begin with a patriotic concert by the Big Bend Community Band followed by keynote speaker, Lieutenant Col Paul Stewart, Fort Bliss Garrison Executive Officer of Fort Bliss in El Paso.
The Big Bend Community Band has prepared their fall concert to highlight a collection of patriotic music including America the Beautiful, The Glory of the Yankee Navy, and ending with The Star Spangled Banner.
“Our opener is a fanfare on My Country Tis of Thee” says Sue Zukowski. “I think it’s great that the Big Bend Community Band has the chance to honor Veterans through music. They deserve it.”
All area veterans, their families and the public in general are invited to attend. The Fort Davis National Historic Site is located in North Fort Davis at 101 Lt. Flipper Dr. #1379.
For further information contact the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce: director@fortdavis.com or 432-426-3015.
MARFA – Marfa ISD invites all military veterans and the community to its Veterans Day Program at 10am Friday, November 10 at the Marfa Shorthorn Gymnasium.
The guest speaker is Jaime Juarez, a former Marine who served in the War of Terrorism, the Presidio County Veterans Service Officer, and a Marfa High School graduate.
The Shorthorn Band will perform the Arms Forces Medley and Taps.
A barbecue brisket lunch with all the trimmings cooked up by Presidio County Sheriff Danny Dominguez will be provided for veterans and their spouses after the ceremony.
Veterans are kindly asked to arrive by 9:30am to sign in before the ceremony.
Any veteran or veteran’s widow who can’t attend the program for any reason may call Mando Garcia at (433) 729-3432 for a barbecue plate delivered to their door.
PRESIDIO – Presidio ISD invites all military veterans and the community to its Veterans Day Program at 10am Friday, November 10 at the Presidio High School gym.
Retired Navy Commander Clint Weber of Alpine is the guest speaker.
After the program, a barbecue brisket lunch with all the trimmings cooked up by Presidio County Sheriff Danny Dominguez will be provided to our veterans.