LISA DENTON: Barry, there's a lot NOT going on in town the closer we get to Christmas. Most of the bigger events happen early in the month because people get so busy with their family celebrations. But there are a couple of big to-dos coming up worth mentioning, one organized by someone you know and another put together by people I know.
BARRY COURTER: Yes, and I'm very proud of Kirby Waddell. She's a law student at UTK, who I have known forever. She got the idea for the Santa Pub Crawl while in New York awhile back and pretty much threw it together by herself here last year, and it was a big success. Basically, people put on their best holiday costumes, bring an unwrapped toy, which goes to Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army Angel Tree, and they can get discounts and specials at participating restaurants. It's on Saturday by the way.
LISA: We'll preview it in FYI Weekend on Friday, but the photos they sent make it look really fun, with last year's participants dressed as Clauses, reindeer and elves. But most impressive is the loot they brought in. And yes, there are drink specials, but many of the restaurants are offering dinner specials too, including half-price kids meals at Terminal Brewhouse. And Clumpies Ice Cream is particularly kid-friendly with 25 percent discounts to those who donate.
BARRY: Last year, more than 300 toys were donated by these pub-crawling yuletide costumed crusaders, and that made for a lot of happy kids.
LISA: There will be more happy kids -- happy families, really -- in the north end of the county, where I was raised. There have always been efforts to help needy families by various churches and civic organizations, but this year they're getting help from more residents and business owners for the first Sale Creek and Bakewell Community Christmas Celebration and Charity Drive. Organizers have been meeting for several weeks to pull everything together, and it will all culminate Saturday night at the Sale Creek Lions Club.
Children can curl up on pillows to listen to readings of the biblical Christmas story and "A Visit From St. Nicholas." There will be cookies, hot chocolate, surprise visitors and a Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department fire truck to explore. And there's a community choir, so I'm practicing my fa-la-las in case they want me to sing solo (so low they can't hear me).
Toys and gifts will be delivered to needy families the next day.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.