Holiday Fun Small Town Style

The day after Christmas, hubby Bob and I went small town and enjoyed, "Shining Light Through The Darkness" at Kish Park in Burnham, PA. This is a truly home grown event in my hometown.  It began as a project by a student and has grown every year to become a welcome holiday event in our area.

Kish Park is a local park complete with picnic tables, a campground, duck pond, a stream, a community theater and a walking path.  From early December to early January, this park becomes a lighted holiday wonderland.The event is hosted by Freedom Avenue United Methodist Church. Different businesses and non-profit organizations sponsor and set up lighted holiday displays throughout the park. Visitors use the walking trail to enjoy all the displays. If you are not able to walk, a golf cart ride is offered.  If you go on certain nights, you can get a horse drawn carriage ride around the park.

Santa welcomes you to the park!

Just a few years ago, this was the extent of this event.  This year, there was some sort of activity or entertainment planned for every evening except Christmas eve, Christmas night, New Year's eve and New Year's night. There have been a dog walk and dog picture day, kid's make it/take it crafts, children's story time, a Christmas service, Karaoke and lighting of luminaries along the walking path.

New LED display on the duck pond

Many different local entertainers have performed including Saints and Singers barbershop quartet, Tim and Duane show, Cassie Campbell with Carla Traxler, Unusual Suspects, Free for All, Chris Ruble, Country Gospel Revival, Brush Mountain Band, Grace Fala with Rhonda Sweigart, Miranda Shoop, Drew Zimmerman, Blue Grass Country Express, Dylan Crosson and Mike Bair.  The night we were there, we listened to Drew Zimmerman while sipping our hot chocolate.  He was good!

Penguins getting warm by the fire

This was a totally free event.  Volunteers do welcome any donations you can make when you are at the park. The donations are used for expansion and maintenance of this delightful little piece of hometown fun. They also welcome any volunteer help. Check out the Kish Park Shining Light website for more information.

Destination: Peter Mayer Stars and Promises Concert

Last week my friends and I started the holiday season off on a great note by attending Peter Mayer's "Starts and Promises" Christmas concert in Lancaster, PA. In case you are asking, "who is Peter Mayer?", we were introduced to his talents when we went to a Jimmy Buffet concert years ago.  Peter is part of the Choral Reefers band that backs Jimmy.

Peter Mayer plays lead guitar.

Don't expect "Christmas in the Carribean" when you see "Starts and Promises".  This is a totally different musical experience.  Peter is an accomplished guitarist and he tours with some pretty impressive musicians. There is Mark Holland, a native American flute player.  I counted 13 different types of flutes that he played while onstage. Alicia Enstrom plays violin and has played as the featured violinist for Cirque du Soleil. R. Scott Bryan can play just about any instrument you put in front of him and is oh so good as the group's percussionist.  Chris Walters plays a soulful piano. Zeb Briskovich played great stand up bass.  Peter's son, Brendan is a talented guitarist and vocalist in his own right who has begun touring with his father in recent years.

The music in this concert is eclectic, inspirational and uplifting.  There are influences from Peter's childhood in India, jazz and rock.  The concert is filled with Peter's original songs.  Two of my favorites are "Junk Man's Christmas" and Peter's version of "Go Tell it on the Mountain".

We were about two rows back.

The concert was held at Highland Presbyterian Church.  This was a small venue, so there was no bad seat in the house. The music was a celebration of the joy of the season and we all felt a part of the celebration.  Several times during the concert, we were asked to join in the song. What fun!

Last Spring, we came to the church to see Peter's Easter concert.  My friend, John White won an Australian guitar that Peter raffled off for the church.  He decided to donate it back to the church so it could be re-raffled.  He's hoping it will become a little like those traveling pants in the book.  He's excited to see where the guitar goes next and what it's story will be.

John White and the now famous Aussie guitar.

Peter and his band are touring the country in the next few weeks before Christmas.  Take a look at his tour dates.  Maybe you will be able to enjoy this wonderful slice of Christmas for yourself!