Saturday, May 11, 2024
Hood County residents will soon be able to experience Christmas like never before with Granbury Baptist Church’s fourth annual Christmas Carnival.
The free event — set for Sunday, Dec. 10 from 4-7 p.m. at 1200 Weatherford Hwy. — was created as a way for families to celebrate the holiday season together.
“We decided everybody does a fall festival,” said Granbury Baptist Church Children’s Director Disty Short. “So, we decided that we wanted to do something special for Christmas time, especially given that it’s our savior’s birth. We wanted to have a family night where families could come and just have a good time with their kids.”
With various activities like Christmas crafts, inflatables, cookie decorating and a petting zoo, children are sure to have a blast at the holiday event.
“We have a s’more station, we give away water, hot chocolate and cold (or snow) chocolate, and then this year, for the first time, we’re doing a cake walk,” she said. “The Promise in Glen Rose is also bringing their animals for a petting zoo, and they’re bringing a camel this year.”
Short said along with a camel, The Promise will provide other animals like donkeys, sheep, and goats — noting they will also be used to create a live nativity scene every hour.
The church auditorium will house the “Christmas Around the World” display, where guests can learn about Christmas in countries like Mexico, Greece, Kenya and Germany.
“We give away little stuffed animals, we have crafts, we have really nice baskets that we do drawings for,” Short said. “It's just for (residents) to have a family night around this time of year.”
Additionally, the event will feature multiple photo opportunities, discounted food truck meals, free giveaways, and treats provided by Baked Bread & Pastry Co.
“This year, I’m really excited because we have Baked coming and they’re creating some savory treats just for the carnival,” Short explained. “They have a croissant that has mac and cheese and briskets on it, and a chicken pot pie. They’re also bringing in their sausage roll and the ham and gruyere croissant, as well as their pastries.”
Short said although the event is free, the food items from Baked are not. However, attendees will still receive a discount.
“The church subsidizes, so it’s cheaper than what it would be if you went to Baked, but that’s the only thing that costs money,” she said. “Our goal is that a family could come in and if they wanted to get dinner, they could feed their family for 20 bucks or less.”
As a bonus, DaySpring from Hallmark will also provide 300 bibles for the church to give away during the carnival.
“That was exciting for us because we give away Bibles, kids' books, devotionals and kids' devotionals, so we try to make it exciting for everyone,” Short said. “We try to have some (Bibles) in Spanish. The majority are in English, but we also have Spanish books and Bibles that we're giving away."
Granbury resident Judy Hamm will serve as the event clown, while Granbury Baptist Church Administrative Assistant Beverly Lance will dress up as Princess Candy Cane in her “cool, velvet outfit.”
“She looks so good that at our trunk or treat this year, she was dressed up in her outfit, and people were calling her Mrs. Claus,” Short said.
“I was already getting present requests to pass on to Santa,” Lance said. “It's so cute. It's just a treasure.”
Short added the event will go on “rain or shine,” and said she hopes the community will come out for the church’s “happening” annual holiday carnival.
“Last year, we had almost 2,500 (people in attendance),” she said, jokingly adding that the part she’s excited about the most for this year is a tie “between Baked and the camel.”
“I think the camel is gonna be a lot of fun to have and I always love Baked, but the best thing of all, though, is to hear the children just being so excited,” Short added. “They're laughing and they love it. A lot of the parents are always like, ‘Thank you, there’s never anything for the kids this time of year,’ so it’s wonderful.”
For more information, call Granbury Baptist Church at 817-573-4943 or email info@granburybaptist.org.
