TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF TINSEL & LIGHTS: Christmas in the Country in St. Francisville, LA by Anne Butler Founded in 1807 atop a narrow ridge overlooking the Mississippi River, the quaint little rivertown of St. Francisville, LA, this year observes its bicentennial, and its joyous annual holiday weekend called Christmas In The Country continues the celebration of two centuries on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 7, 8 and 9. Highlight of the festivities is always the Saturday afternoon parade, this year marching under the banner of “Two Hundred Years of Tinsel and Lights.” Historic homes decorated for the holidays. While the weekend centers around St. Francisville’s wonderful small shops, the hospitable residents of the town’s Historic District graciously share their history and heritage from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings through a fascinating feature called “A Glimpse Into Our Holiday Homes,” inviting visitors to satisfy their curiosity about what lies behind the lace curtains as they peep through designated decorated windows at families gathered around the hearth or singing carols beside the Christmas tree. On Sunday afternoon from noon to 5, a tour of beautifully designed newer homes benefits the parish library while attesting to the continuing inspiration architects and homebuilders find in this scenic setting; tickets are available at the library on Ferdinand St. (for information, call 225-635-3364). In St. Francisville itself, millions of tiny white lights trace soaring Victorian trimwork and grace gallery posts swagged with greenery to transform this picturesque village into a veritable winter wonderland. The merchants of the town started Christmas In The Country, a safe small-town celebration of the season that has for decades provided a joyful alternative to mall madness, as encouragement to shop locally in the magnificent historic setting that St. Francisville provides. Some of those merchants, like Fay Daniel of The Shanty Too, have been involved for more than three decades, spearheading an event they still get excited about, with a childlike excitement and exuberance that is exactly what Christmas In The Country is all about. This is especially true as evening falls; the drive through town after dark is truly spectacular with all the twinkling lights, and visitors should be sure not to miss the 75,000-light extravaganza next to the local jail. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, the First Baptist Church Children’s Choir sings on the front porch of Town Hall, and Santa Claus comes to town to kick off the Lighting Ceremony of the Town Christmas Tree, followed by a public reception hosted by jovial longtime St. Francisville mayor Billy D'Aquilla. Also Friday evening at 7, the Baton Rouge Symphony presents its annual brass and percussion concert of seasonal selections at historic Grace Episcopal Church; tickets are available from the Bank of St. Francisville (225-635-6397, extension 231). At 7:30, the popular St. Francisville Transitory Theatre showcases some immensely talented local thespians in a production of “A Merry Medieval Christmas” at Old Market Hall on Royal St., with doors opening at 7 and admission $5; concessions will be available, and seating is limited. Saturday, Dec. 8, begins with a 7:30 a.m. Community Prayer Breakfast at United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall on Royal St. This will be followed by Breakfast with St. Nick for children at Jackson Hall next to Grace Church at 8, 9:30 and 10 a.m., sponsored by the Women’s Service League (advance tickets recommended; call 225-202-5403). Throughout the day there are fun childrens’ activities and a multitude of food vendors, arts and crafts, music and space walk in Parker Park. There will also be all manner of entertainment in various locations throughout the downtown historic district, featuring choirs, dancers, musicians, artisans and other performers. From 10 until dark the West Feliciana Parish Fire Protection District 1 opens its Fire Safety House beside the town first station, with safety tips and 8-foot Christmas stocking raffle. At 11:30 a.m., Junior Jazzercise puts on a lively demonstration at the corner of Commerce and Ferdinand Sts. Parade at Christmas in the Country Musical entertainment ranges from the angelic voices of children’s choirs to strolling quartets to the raucous rocking Angola Prison Band. On Saturday the musical features include Bains Elementary Chorus at Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 9:15, Bains Lower Elementary School Choir at West Feliciana Historical Society museum at 10, West Feliciana High Spanish Club Choir at Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 10, Lagniappe Quartet strolling along Ferdinand St. 10-2, West Feliciana High Latin Club at Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 10:30, New Magnolia Baptist Church Choir at The Shanty Too 10:30 to 12:30, West Feliciana Middle School Choir at West Feliciana Historical Society museum at 10:45, West Feliciana High Choir at Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 10:45 to 11, The Gospel Wonders at Town Hall 11 to 1, Angola Inmate Traveling Band across from Garden Symposium Park noon to 4, Main Street Band at Parker Memorial Park noon to 2, and A Joyful Noise at Town Hall 3 to 5. Other special activities include Lacey Maxwell transforming young ladies into Glitter Girls at Hillcrest from 10:30 to 12:30, Ins’N’Outs Nursery open house with fresh Christmas greenery, open house at Patrick’s Fine Jewelry with Waterford crystal drawing, open house at Thomas Savage Bookseller, open house at The Shanty Too featuring author Anne Butler autographing her latest book called “The Spirit of St. Francisville,” Grandmother’s Buttons popular annual sidewalk jewelry sale, Sage Hill Gifts open house with personalizing ornaments 1 to 4, Wine Parlor open house and samples, Britches & Stitches fall sale, and open house at Destinee’s Clay Pot florist. St. Francisville’s annual Christmas Parade is everybody's favorite small-town holiday parade, sponsored for decades by the local charitable group called the Women's Service League, which also sponsors the sale of immense natural Christmas wreaths on Ferdinand St. to finance dozens of community service projects throughout the year. The parade rolls down Ferdinand St. to Commerce St. beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday. Gaily decorated parade floats vie for coveted prizes, while high school cheerleaders, band members, marching ROTC units and dancers liven things up. There will also be bagpipes, clowns, vintage cars, and representatives of parish and town law enforcement and fire departments, all flinging plenty of candy and parade favors. Santa rides resplendent in a magnificent sleigh pulled by Louisiana State Penitentiary's immense prized Percheron draft horses, groomed and gleaming in the sunlight with their sleigh bells jingling. The grand marshall is talented young David St. Romain of “Nashville Star” fame, who will perform for fans following the parade. The First Baptist Church presents its inspiring Live Walk-through Nativity from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, complementing the United Methodist Church’s old-fashioned Christmas Carol Sing-Along at 6 p.m. The St. Francisville Transitory Theatre again performs “A Merry Medieval Christmas” at Old Market Hall on Royal St. at 7:30 p.m., and there will be a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. The real focal point of Christmas in the Country remains the St. Francisville area's marvelous little shops, which go all out for this special weekend, hosting Open Houses for shoppers while offering spectacular seasonal decorations and great gift items. The Historic District of St. Francisville, thanks to an enthusiastic Main Street Program and sensitive preservation regulations, maintains its historic character hand-in-hand with present-day economic viability; this downtown area is very much alive, in fact the center of life in the community. A variety of quaint little shops occupy historic structures throughout the downtown area and spread into the outlying district, each unique in its own way, and visitors should not miss a single one. From the rich Victoriana of The Shanty Too, for decades the anchor of the downtown business community and always noted for spectacular Christmas decorations, to the jewelry beautifully crafted from vintage buttons at Grandmother's Buttons or from beads at The Beaded Path, to the wonderful new antiques/gifts shop called Sage Hill across from the post office, downtown St. Francisville is filled with fine shopping opportunities. Artist Herschel Harrington has a studio displaying his own works, while the St. Francis and Backwoods Galleries exhibit other local artists' works as well. There’s a used bookstore full of fascinating reading material and some rare autographed early editions, as well as the ecclectic artsy offerings cum cappacinos of Birdman Books and Coffee. The West Feliciana Historical Society’s tourist center and museum also has a large variety of tasteful souvenir and gift items, regional books and prints. On the outskirts of town, intrepid shoppers won't want to miss the one-of-a-kind collectibles at the Vintage Store on US 61 south and Border Imports with its huge inventory of Mexican pottery, ironwork and concrete statuary on US 61 north. Hillcrest Gardens and Interiors overflows with fine gift items and children’s clothing at LA 10 and Commerce St. Avondale Antiques resurrects an old quarters shotgun house and nearby Destinee’s Clay Pot and Magic Maker on US 61 are florists with small gift items as well. Ins’N’Outs Nursery is well stocked for those giving living green gifts this year. On US Highway 61 at LA 10 is an elegant antique mall and outdoor sculpture garden filled with a revolving selection of wares called the Audubon Antique Gallery, in contrast with the nearby Radio Shack full of the latest techno gadgets and Patrick’s Fine Jewelry with beautiful custom designs. Most of the plantations in the St. Francisville area have gift shops as well, and a visit to those would allow enjoyment of the beautiful seasonal decorations there. The two state historic sites in the St. Francisville area, elegant 1835 Rosedown Plantation with its glorious 19th-century formal gardens and Oakley Plantation in the Audubon State Historic Site where artist-naturalist John James Audubon tutored the daughter of plantation owners and painted many of his famous bird studies in the early 1820's, are decorated in period style with lots of natural greenery, fruits and nuts, and both offer seasonal activities and demonstrations throughout the month of December. Located on US Highway 61 on the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge, LA, and Natchez, MS, the St. Francisville area is a year-round tourist destination, but visitors find it especially enjoyable in the winter of the year when the antebellum gardens are filled with blooming camellias. Six historic plantations-Rosedown and Audubon State Historic Sites, Butler Greenwood, the Myrtles, the Cottage and Greenwood-are open for daily tours, Catalpa Plantation is open by reservation and Afton Villa Gardens seasonally. Reasonably priced meals are available in a nice array of restaurants in St. Francisville, and some of the state's best Bed and Breakfasts offer overnight accommodations ranging from golf clubs and lakeside resorts to historic townhouses and country plantations; a modern motel has facilities to accommodate busloads. The scenic unspoiled Tunica Hills region surrounding St. Francisville offers excellent biking, hiking, fishing, birding, horseback riding and other recreational activities. For online coverage of tourist facilities, attractions and events in the St. Francisville area, see Tourism Commission , Town of St. Francisville, or St. Francisville Overnight, or telephone (225) 635-3873 or 635-6330.