Things to Do Around Monroe

~ The Monroe Clinic Volunteers have their annual Christmas Festival on Friday in Founder's Hall. On December 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., stop in for a bake sale, lunch stand, Clare’s Closet gift shop items, a silent auction as well as coffee and sweets. All proceeds benefit the scholarship fund.

~ If you are in Shopko this Friday or Saturday, stop by to listen to music provided by students of the Green County Piano Teachers Association. 155 students and 8 teachers are participating in a Piano Play-A-Thon.

~ Did you register for Kookaburra's annual Cookie Contest? If not, there is still time. If you are not a baker, stop in to taste the cookies and fudge entrants between 10am-3pm, and be sure to check out the fun new inventory of culinary goods and gifts while you are there.

~ New Glarus will host the first Tour of the Arts, showcasingworks by emerging and established artists, each one hosted by a different business or retail store. Maps of the artist locations will be available at the New Glarus Chamber (Depot Building on Railroad Street) starting at 10 a.m. There will also be traditional Swiss holiday treats and other sweets at the Swiss Church Cookie Sale, Santa at the Anderson Mall and horse-drawn wagon rides downtown.

~ Tthe Monroe City Band Christmas will have a concert on Sunday, December 6, 3:00 p.m. at the Methodist Church. Admission is free, and there will be cookies after.

~ Juda Fire Departments holds their annual Big Gun Show this Sunday from 8 am until 3:30 pm. Buy, sell or trade at 100 tables of guns and gun related times. $4 admission at the door, will all proceeds helping the Juda Fire Department to purchase life saving equipment.

~ St John's UCC Church hosts Deutscher Weihnachtsgottesdienst this Sunday at 2 pm. This German-language sermon is believed to be one of the few of its kind still conducted in the US. There will be a retelling of the Christmas story using lessons and carols with several native speakers taking part in the reading.
~ The Monroe Theatre Guild’s Youth Choirs have their fall session concert on Sunday, December 6th at 7:00 PM at Monroe Arts Center. Both the Junior and Senior Choirs will be performing traditional and non-traditional Christmas songs. The kids are sure to entertain music lovers of all ages. Doors open at 6:30 and admission is by donation. Come fill the house with supporters of these young singers.

~ Are you ready for TubaChristmas!? Come to Lincoln Mall on W. Galena Avenue in Freeport at 11 am on Saturday for an hour-long concert of your favorite Christmas carols played by local and regional tuba and baritone players.

~ Also in Freeport this Saturday is the annual Luminary Walk at Okadale Nature Preserve. From 6 pm to 9:30 pm, the woods will glow with the light from hundres of luminaries. Enjoy an guided hike through the paths where special guests along the way will share their stories with you. Treats and music await in the Lodge, and the Children's Holiday Giving Store will be open. Admission is $6 for adult, $4 for kids 4 through 11 years for this enchanting event.

~ The Green County Area Entreprenuers and Inventors Club meets this Monday evening from 6:30 until 8:30 at Barb's Kitchen (710 16th Street, Monroe). Barb Newcomer and other Food Entrepreneurs will talk about their businesses and sharing a commercial kitchen. Tours and samples available. Event is open to the public and free.