Chickasaw Country Christmas

Chickasaw Country will illuminate in holiday cheer this season as several Christmas events and attractions get underway in cities across Southern Oklahoma.

Chickasaw Cultural Center Celebration of Lights

Santa kicks off the annual Celebration of Lights at the Chickasaw Cultural Center 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28.

Dozens of displays featuring traditional Christmas themes and Chickasaw greetings are included in the dazzling drive-through display.

The free drive-through light display will be open every evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. until Dec. 31.

More than 10,400 people visited the attraction last year.

In addition, several holiday films will be screened in December at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center's display is only one Holiday attraction in the Sulphur area.

The Artesian Hotel, also located in Sulphur, will also be decked for the Christmas holiday and offer several events for a "Classic Christmas at the Artesian".

Christmas carolers will sing traditional holiday hymns, Mrs. Claus will read stories by the fireplace, and children can have milk and cookies with Santa and take a carriage ride, Friday and Saturday Dec. 11-12 and 18-19.

Breakfast with Santa and visits with his reindeer will be offered Dec. 12 and 19 at the hotel.

For more information, contact the Artesian Hotel, Casino and Spa, at http://www.artesianhotel.com or call 855-455-5255.

Chickasaw Cultural Christmas Celebration, December 12

Santa Claus and Christmas cheer can be found at the Chickasaw Cultural Center Christmas Celebration and Fine Arts Market set Sat., Dec. 12. The annual event will include celebrations of several significant holiday traditions.

Pictures with Santa, a Festival of Trees, a Christmas concert, cultural demonstrations, Stomp Dance demonstration, holiday story time and letters to Santa are a few of the activities planned.

Children can create gifts in "Santa's Workshop" and families can view a holiday film in the Anoli' Theater.

Guided tours of the traditional village, complete with hot chocolate, will also be available.

Holiday-themed trek in Tishomingo area Dec. 12

The Chickasaw Nation will host a holiday-themed trek through Chickasaw territory Saturday, Dec. 12 with "Christmas at the Museums" and "Progressive Dinner."

The Christmas at the Museums event features a free progressive dinner providing a separate course of dinner at each stop. Appetizers will be served 4 p.m. at the Chickasaw Council House in Tishomingo, Okla. followed by a barbecue dinner at 5 p.m. at the historic Chickasaw Capitol.

After the dinner, a shuttle will be available to take the guests to the Chickasaw Bank for hot tea and cider, then to the Chickasaw White House in Emet, Okla., for desserts and a visit with Santa.

Guests will also be able to enjoy the festive décor and music as they tour the museums.

During the event, donations of gloves, scarves and toboggans for children of all sizes will be accepted and will be donated to the Chickasaw Foster Care program.

The Council House Museum includes artifacts tracing the history and culture of the Chickasaw people, contemporary Chickasaw artworks, a gift shop and more. It is located at 209 North Fisher.

The Chickasaw National Capitol, 411 W. 9th Street, is a stately structure overlooking the town of Tishomingo.

Built in 1895, the Chickasaw White House was the home of Chickasaw Governor and his family from 1898 to 1971. Now under the care of the tribe, the White House has been restored to its full grandeur.

The address of the Chickasaw White House is 6379 E. Mansion Road, Milburn, Oklahoma. It is on the north edge of Emet.

Take State Highway 78 about 10 miles east of Tishomingo and turn right on Mansion Road. The White House will be on the right.

For more information, call (580) 371-9835.

Take a Christmas Journey at the McSwain, Ada

The Chickasaw Nation will host Christmas Journey 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 as well as 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows Saturday, Dec. 12 at the McSwain Theater in Ada, Okla.

An original Christmas show, Christmas Journey, is the story of a young girl, Virginia Ann (Ginny) Barnes who no longer believes in Christmas or anything related to it, including Santa Claus.

With the help of others, Ginny embarks on her Christmas journey to again find the joy of Christmas.

Christmas Journey, a Chickasaw Theatre Company production, includes a choir performing "Joy to the World!" "Deck the Halls," "Away in a Manager" and "O Holy Night."

A cast of more than 100 from the southern Oklahoma area are participating in this original production.

For more information on Christmas Journey, contact arts & humanities at (580) 272-5520.

Christmas Spectacular

"The Christmas Spectacular" hosted by Jae L. and Crossover will be conducted at the McSwain Theatre, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and the traditional "Hee Haw" show will get underway New Year's Eve at the McSwain Theatre Thursday, Dec. 31.

For more information about events at the historic theatre contact the McSwain Theatre at 580-332-8108 or online at http://www.McSwainTheatre.com.

The McSwain Theatre, 130 W. Main in Ada, is owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation.

Holiday Canvas Paint

Get into the holiday spirit at two holiday canvas paint sessions, planned from 10 a.m. to noon or 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 19.

Participants may choose to attend a session at the Chickasaw Nation Arts & Humanities building, 201 N Broadway, Ada, or the ARTesian Gallery & Studios, 100 W Muskogee Ave., Sulphur.

The sessions are $10 and include a canvas, art supplies. Art instructors will be on site to provide guidance.

For more information, contact Chickasaw Nation Arts & Humanities at (580) 272-5520.

Chickasaw Press Book Sale and Open House

The Chickasaw Press will conduct a Christmas Book Sale and Open House from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11 at 1315 Hoppe Blvd., Ada.

A 20 percent discount on all Chickasaw Press and White Dog Press books will be offered, including recently released titles: a hardcover edition of Te Ata: Chickasaw Storyteller, American Treasure, Chokma'si: The Beauty of the Chickasaw Nation, a photography art book; two new Chickasaw language dictionaries, a hardcover reprinting of A Chickasaw Dictionary, compiled by Jesse Humes and Vinnie May (James) Humes, and the new A Concise Chickasaw Dictionary; the creative non-fiction title, Wenonah's Story: A Memoir of a Chickasaw Family, and a new cookbook of family-friendly recipes, ilittibaaimpa': Let's Eat Together! A Chickasaw Cookbook.

Author book signing will be available and holiday refreshments will be provided during the event.

Chickasaw Cultural Center's Winter Solstice Celebration Set Dec. 20-21

Celebrate winter's arrival at the Chickasaw Cultural Center's Winter Solstice Celebration, set Sunday, Dec. 20 and Monday, Dec. 21, the first day of winter.

Activities including Stomp Dance, cultural demonstrations, crafts, traditional games, storytelling, Stick Ball and much more are planned to celebrate the changing of the seasons.

Tours of the traditional village will also be available.

For more information about upcoming events at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, 867 Cooper Memorial Drive in Sulphur, Okla., call 580-622-7130, or visit http://www.chickasawculturalcenter.com.

For a complete list of Christmas parades and lighting events in Chickasaw Country, please visit http://www.chickasawcountry.com