Put the Holiday Market, meeting Mrs. Claus and donating blood on your Christmas to-do list

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be portrayed by Jim Trubey, right, and Jenny Matlock, left, at the Marsh House in LaFayette, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 11.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be portrayed by Jim Trubey, right, and Jenny Matlock, left, at the Marsh House in LaFayette, Ga., on Sunday, Dec. 11.

We know it's a busy season, but we wouldn't want you to miss out on some of the fun Christmas events about to start or about to end.

Here are a few to keep in mind. You'll find more ideas for celebrating the holidays elsewhere at chattanooganow.com.

Relative Clauses

Santa's not so hard to find this season, but where's the other half of the North Pole power couple?

Sunday afternoon, Dec. 11, she'll be in LaFayette, Ga., joining Santa for photos at the Marsh House, 308 N. Main St.

Sittings are scheduled between 1:30 and 4 p.m. in the historic home's parlor. Parents are asked to reserve a time at www.facebook.com/TheMarshHouseOfLaFayette. Packages are priced at $15, $25 and $40.

For more information, call 706-764-2801.

The Barn Nursery, 1801 E. 24th St. Place, also has Santa and Mrs. Claus available for photos with children and pets from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11. Call 423-698-2276.

Wrap stars

Chattanooga's Kids on the Block returns for its 33rd annual Holiday Gift Wrap fundraiser Friday, Dec. 9, through Saturday, Dec. 24, at Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Among the choices of wrapping paper is a design created by the winner of the Times Free Press Wrapping Paper Contest (see Sunday's Life section for details).

All you need to do is bring your gift by. CKOB will provide boxes, tissue, wrapping paper, ribbons, bows and - most importantly - the expertise for square corners and even edges.

There's a small fee per gift to help support the programs of CKOB, which uses puppets to educate children about social concerns and differences.

There are stations on both levels of the mall: upstairs in front of the Tourist Information Center and downstairs in front of Dillard's Women.

For more information, call 423-757-5259.

Gift ideas

Chattanooga Market has moved into the Chattanooga Convention Center for its Holiday Market, which continues the next two weekends.

Visitors will find an assortment of handmade gifts, including custom art, pottery, jewelry, natural bath and body products, apparel, wood furniture and foods. Local performers will entertain.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 10 and 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 11 and 18. Admission is free, and Santa will pose for free photos from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

For more information, visit www.chattanoogamarket.com.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Winery, 6469 Battlefield Parkway in Ringgold, will showcase its specialties, along with merchandise from guest vendors at Christmas open houses from 1 to 5 p.m. the next two Saturdays.

On Dec. 10, the guest vendor is Collective Carousel. On Dec. 17, Olive Chattanooga and Smell This Candles will be guests. There's also a Christmas open house on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, but with no extra vendors on hand.

Each weekend, the winery will have samples of gourmet food products, mulled wine and its seasonal Holiday Cheer, a tart cranberry/sugar sweet white grape wine. A selection of gift baskets is ready to go, or you can create your own as you wander the store.

For more information, call 706-937-9463 or visit www.georgiawines.com.

Kids, pets, Santa

Cabela's, 350 Cobb Parkway in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., is offering a final weekend of free photos with Santa on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11, in front of the store's signature fireplace.

From noon to 4 p.m., customers are invited to bring their children and well-behaved "fur babies" for holiday activities, treats and a complimentary photo with a real-bearded Santa.

"This is an opportunity to celebrate Christmas and thank all our loyal customers and their families around the holidays," says Philip Sparn, marketing manager at the outdoor outfitter's Fort Oglethorpe location.

For more information, visit www.cabelas.com/ftoglethorpe or call 706-956-2800.

Hearts of Gold

Those who donate at least $20 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga this season will receive a 2016 Hearts of Gold ornament. Its snowman family symbolizes keeping families close to their sick children and the very best medical care, says Development Officer Brittany Snyder in a news release.

"RMHC is proud to be an important part of family-centered care," she says. "When you purchase an ornament, you help make it possible for RMHC to make each family feel at home during a difficult time in their life. It represents the gift of togetherness and hope for children and families during the holidays."

All proceeds benefit local families served by RMHC of Greater Chattanooga, which provides a home away from home each year for some 600 families of critically injured and seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Established in 1990, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga is an independent nonprofit that operates solely on donations from individuals, businesses and foundations.

Its cornerstone programs are the 26-bedroom Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital at Erlanger and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a full medical clinic to underserved, school-age children in Bradley and Polk Counties.

To purchase an ornament, go to www.rmchattanooga.com.

'Ugly' bonus for blood donors

Blood Assurance is hoping to transform the "12 Days of Christmas" into the "12 Days of Giving" this season by inviting the community to help save lives during the holidays when blood supply levels for local hospitals are historically low.

From Monday, Dec. 12, through Friday, Dec. 23, blood donors will be gifted in return with a "Tacky Christmas" T-shirt, modeled after the quintessential ugly Christmas sweater. There's also a chance to win a $100 gift card each day during the campaign, and patients at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital at Erlanger will receive a coloring book and crayons for each blood donation received this month.

Walk-ins are welcome, or you can call 800-962-0628 to schedule an appointment.

To be eligible to donate, you must be at least 18 years old (17 with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. For other guidelines and locations of donor centers, visit www.bloodassurance.org.

Upcoming Events