COUNTRY CHRISTMAS WALK THIS WEEKEND AT STE. GENEVIEVE

STE. GENEVIEVE -- The streets of historic St. Genevieve will be gaily decorated this weekend for the town's annual Country Christmas Walk.

The festivities will start at 11 a.m. Saturday with a parade through the downtown streets. Les Petites Chanteurs, a children's singing group, will perform throughout the historic district from noon to 2 Saturday and from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Also roaming the streets both days will be caroling adults and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

A tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday in front of the Great River Road Interpretive Center, Main and Market streets. The Guibourd-Valle House, built of vertical logs in 1806, will open its doors to the public at 6:30 p.m.

Visitors also will find a live nativity scene at the First Presbyterian Church, South Main and Gabouri, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The church also will host a holiday bazaar at 10 a.m. Saturday.

On Sunday, The Ste. Genevieve High School band boosters will host a breakfast at 6:30 a.m., and the high school's Swing Choir will provide a holiday concert at the Interpretive Center at 11 a.m.

The Handbell Choir of the Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church will perform at 3 p.m., and the Ste. Genevieve Wind Ensemble will follow the choir into the church for a 4 p.m. performance.

An art show sponsored by the Ste. Genevieve Art Guild will be held in conjunction with the walk. The show will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Patke Room of the County Services Building, 255 Market St.