Historic Richmond Association Prepares for Annual Christmas Event
Published:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
This year's festivities will begin with a new family event, "Richmond on the Brazos 5K Family Fun Run/Walk". Richmond's Mayor Hilmar Moore and Joe Freudenberger with OakBend Medical Center will "kick off" the 5K Family Fun Run at 8:00 am in front of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, followed by the Kid's 1 Mile Fun Run at 8:15 am, then the 5K Walk at 8:30 am. Judge Bob Hebert and Commissioner Richard Morrison will present the Fun Run awards on the front steps of the Fort Bend County's 100-year-old courthouse following the race.
Deadline for on-line registration is Monday, November 30, 2009. Visit www.HistoricRichmond.org.
Following the awards ceremony, the action moves one block north to Morton Street at 10 am, with Moore and Freudenberger kicking off "Miracle On Morton Street" festivities.
Throughout the day, over "70" vendors will be on hand with a wide array of arts and crafts, gift items and food galore, and local businesses will be open for Christmas shopping.
Downtown restaurants serving their favorite dishes include The Flying Pig Café, Italian Maid, Sandy McGee's, Lone Star Saloon, the Richmond Coffee Station, and Yucatan Mexican Grill. Other food vendors are Texas Roadhouse, Sacred Heart Catholic Church KC's, Hispanic Heritage Forum, Morton Masonic Lodge and Creole's Authentic Louisiana Cuisine.
T.W. Davis YMCA's "Kid Zone" will feature moon walks, arts & crafts, face-painting and volunteers from the Interact Clubs of Lamar Consolidated and Foster high schools, who will provide a number of children's activities and prizes. Plus, Santa has promised the possibility of snow flurries during the day!
"The TW Davis YMCA is really looking forward to partnering with the Historic Richmond Association and OakBend Medical Center for this year's inaugural Fun Run and many years the Miracle on Morton Street event. The YMCA is always been about how can we better serve the community and there is no better way than to promote fitness for the Families in the Fun Run with celebration of Christmas at Miracle On Morton Street."
Transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with lots of Christmas lights, Miracle On Morton Street will also boast Santa's Special Post Office, performances by church and school choirs, local high school drill teams, and Grandma's Boyfriend's Barber Shop Quartet.
First Community Bank's popular money-grab machine will be on site and clowns will be entertaining the crowds all day and passing out animal balloons.
Some of Santa's elves will be on hand all day at Fort Bend Postal Service to help children write their letters to Santa, and members of the Brazos, Lamar and Travis High School Theatre troupes will give street performances.
Children can have their pictures taken with Santa at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., compliments of Studio Ainsley Photography.
At noon, narrated wagon rides highlighting the history of Richmond's historic district will begin at Hilmar Moore Plaza. The Fort Bend Museum will narrate the tour rides.
The Nutcracker Stage will be the site for the following performances: the 2009 Fort Bend County Fair's Talent Show winners will start up the entertainment at 10:30 a.m., then the Sugar Land Dance Center 11:30 a.m.; Kapa Dance Studio 12:00 p.m.; Dance Tech by Hillary at 12:30 p.m.; Lady Aero Dynamics at 1:00 p.m.; Rosenberg's Texas Roadhouse Dance Team at 1:20 p.m.; B.F. Terry High School Rangerettes 1:40 p.m.; Foster High School Flairs at 2:00 p.m.; and the Lamar High School Fillies at 2:20 p.m. Times are subject to change, and are posted on website.
Also at noon, the Lone Star Saloon will host live musical entertainment featuring regional talent, on the Shepard Construction stage outdoors in front of the saloon, beginning with local singer, James Mendilo. Along with performances by the Tartanic Bagpipe Show and the Jeremy James Band. Topping off the afternoon at 4:00 p.m. with Zack Walthers and the Cronkities. Then at 9:00 p.m, inside the Saloon Brett Crenshaw will close out the night.
Back to the Nutcracker Stage, with Pecan Grove Elementary Bell Choir at 3:00 p.m.; Oakland Elementary Choir at 3:35 p.m.; Heart of Worship at 4:15 p.m.; New Generation Quartet at 5:30 p.m.; Calvary Episcopal School's Show Stoppers Choir at 5:30 p.m.; and First United Methodist Church Bell Choir at 6:30 p.m.
All eyes will be on Richmond's water tower as Santa "rappels" down the tower around 6 p.m. Then stick around and let Santa hear your Christmas wishes. Complimentary photos with Santa and his elves on Richmond's Fire Department antique fire truck.
A lighting ceremony for the Fort Bend Seniors Tree of Honor begins at 7:00 p.m. in Hilmar Moore Plaza. Each light on the tree symbolizes someone special, and those honored will have their names read during the ceremony. Available for purchase are an Honoring Light for $100, Celebrating Light, $75; Inspiring Light, $50; and Rejoicing Light, $25. To purchase a light, contact Kristin Weiss with Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels at 281-633-7057.
In addition to the free Miracle On Morton Street celebration, there will be no charge to visit the Fort Bend Museum.
Tickets will be available for the annual Moore Home Candlelight Tour. For more details, contact Claire Rogers at 281-342-6478.
A Thank You to all our Sponsors who made this event a "Miracle On Morton Street". A special thank you to the Residence, Family and Friends of our Historic Richmond Community. OakBend Medical Center underwriting the "Richmond On The Brazos 5K Family Fun Run/Walk". Jeremy Shepard for sponsoring the Shepard Construction Stage. Our Jingles Bell sponsors are Campbell Garrett District Homes & Estates and Ocusoft, Inc. The Snowflake sponsors are Bert Bleil, Sue Dinges, Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ & Associates, Inc., Gillen Pest Control, Jack H. Moore, and Thomisee & Thomisee PC Law Firm. Plus, all of Santa's Little Helpers, T.W. Davis YMCA, All About Change, Best Buy, CNP Services, Center Point Energy, City of Richmond, City of Richmond Fire Department, City of Police Department, Commissioner Richard & Allyson Morrison, County Judge Bob & Pat Hebert, Mary Doetterl, First Community Bank, the Flying Pig Café, Fort Bend Museum, Fort Bend Postal Service, Harrison Family, Home Depot, Johnny Hurta, Ice Blue Advertising, Italian Maid Café, Lamar Consolidated School District, Linko's Little Print Shop, the Lone Star Saloon, Tom & Mary Anne McBrayer, Sandy McGee's Restaurant, Mayor Hilmar & Evalyn Moore, McDonald's - Locally Owned/Locally Operated by Judy, Tracey, and Mark Schmid, Morton Street Gallery, New Morton Street LP, Richmond Coffee Station, St. John's United Methodist Church, Rachel Steele, Studio Ainsley Photography, Tate Moerer & King LLP, Treasurer Hunter's Gallery, Urbish Electric, Wessendorff Insurance and Yucatan Mexican Grill.
A limited number of retail vendor spaces are still available. For pricing please contact Mary Doetterl at Mary@HistoricRichmond.org or 281-762-6896. Sponsorship are always appreciated.
Visit www.HistoricRichmond.org for additional information.