REGION OFFERS GRAB BAG OF CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

In Ste. Genevieve, they'll be walking with the Clauses. In Jackson, it is breakfast with Santa himself. And in Bonne Terre there's a "drive-thru" Christmas down a lane sparkling with more than 1.75 million lights.

Anyone interested in Christmas activities outside Cape Girardeau can find plenty of them beginning this weekend.

The 10th annual Country Christmas Walk will be held today and Sunday in Ste. Genevieve. It starts at 11 a.m. today with a parade through the downtown streets featuring Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

Les Petite Chanteurs, a children's singing group, will perform throughout the historic district from noon to 2 p.m. today and from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Caroling adults also will be found in the city streets.

Romance writer Karyn Witmer-Gow, whose pen name is Elizabeth Grayson, will be at Kaegel's Country Collectibles, 252 Merchant St., both days. Parts of Grayson's new book, titled "Bride of the Wilderness," are set in Ste. Genevieve.

A tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 6:15 p.m. today in front of the Great River Road Interpretive Center, Main and Market streets. Afterward, the gaily decorated Guibourd-Valle House will be open to visitors.

A live Nativity scene will be found at the First Presbyterian Church, South Main and Gabouri, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today.

The Ste. Genevieve Municipal Band Wind Ensemble will conclude the walk with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church.

On Dec. 11, visitors to the Felix Valle Home State Historic Site will experience a traditional French Colonial Christmas. The open house is free and will be held from 1 to 7 p.m.

The dining room table will be laden with the typical midnight feast served by the French families after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

In Jackson, "Breakfast with Santa" will be held from 8-11 a.m. today in the senior-high cafeteria, 315 S. Missouri St. Tickets are $2.50 in advance and $3 at the door.

The benefit is sponsored by the Jackson Primary Annex Parents Club.

The Jackson Christmas Parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. today at the corner of High and Madison streets, turning left on Main to Farmington. The theme of the parade is "Children's Storybook Christmas."

So far the Christmas parade -- a tradition that started in the 1950s -- has over 60 entries, including high-school bands from Jackson, Oak Ridge, Meadow Heights, Marquand and Puxico. "There are still more coming in," said Sherri Smith, secretary for the Jackson Jaycees.

"Christmas in Lights" is the name of the drive-thru display consisting of more than 1.75 million lights in Bonne Terre. The sixth annual display is located at the B.T. Cruise 'N' Park.

The one-mile drive goes past a Charles Dickens Village, an elves' castle and carnival, a life-size manger scene with live animals, Christmas carolers, skating reindeer, a waterfall of lights and a 60-foot Christmas tree.

The promoters call it the largest and most spectacular drive-thru holiday light display in the Midwest. Admission is $7 per car or van, $15 for church or school buses, and $50 for tour buses, plus at least one can of food per vehicle. The cans will be donated to local organizations gathering Christmas baskets for needy people.

At Wappapello Lake, the second annual Festival of Lights Tour will be held Dec. 15 through 23 at Redman Creek Campground. Nearly 4,200 visitors drove through the free displays last year.

In New Madrid, St. Louis' Imaginary Theatre Company will present a musical adaptation of "The Little Fir Tree" at 2 p.m. today in the Dixie Theatre.

Later today, the Dixie Players will follow with "Merry Christmas, Dixie Style" at the theater.

In Malden, the Bootheel Youth Museum will present "The Enchanted Forest," a walk-through Christmas display, from 2 to 8 p.m. today and Sunday.

The Mississippi County Historical Society will hold its Christmas Home Tour and Open House Dec. 11 in Charleston. Guests will be welcomed in the homes of John McMinn, Mr. and Mrs. George Simmons, and Mr. and Mrs. Don Burnett.

West to Branson, Silver Dollar City boasts a five-story Christmas tree adorned with angels, doves and stars. The tree comes to life every half hour with an eight-minute light show. There's Christmas music, theater in the Silver Dollar City Opera House, and plenty of food, including Cranberry Chicken and Snowball Cake.

At SIU, the final two performances of "A Christmas Carol" will be presented today and Sunday. Shows are at at 2 and 8 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Phone (618) 453-3001 for tickets.

In Metropolis, Ill, the musical revue "Hitmakers" will feature a special Christmas finale through the rest of the season. The show is presented at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The theater is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Paducah Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Chorus will present their annual Christmas concert at 8:15 p.m. Dec. 10 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets are available by calling 1-(800) 738-3727.

Hermann will host the second annual Kristkindle Market today and Sunday at the Stone Hill Winery Pavilion. Admission will be free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

The event is patterned after the centuries-old Christmas markets in Germany, offering a blend of handmade items, specialty foods and German Christmas music.

In St. Louis, choirs and ensembles will perform at noon weekdays and at 2 p.m. weekends at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse) through Dec. 29.

"Laser Holidays in 3-D" is being presented in the planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center in Forest Park through Dec. 31. Lasers will dance off the dome to the sounds of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley.

Shows are Saturdays and Sundays only, plus daily Dec. 26-30. Phone 314-537-1111 for tickets.

A traveling "Christmas Carol" will play at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, staying for seven performances between Dec. 7 and 10.

"The Colors of Christmas," a concert featuring Peabo Bryson, Sheena Easton, Roberta Flack and James Ingram, will be presented at the Fox Dec. 11.