The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 30

E2 The Pantagraph Sunday, December 5, 2004 www.pantagraph.com GOIFESTIVALS anfta iu siafls? As HoosieirS Local legend says the town got its name on Christmas Eve, 1852. Until then, the little berg was called Santa Fe, which is spelled like the town in New Mexico but pronounced with a long sound. The time had come to apply to the government for a post office, but town leaders faced a dilemma. His mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, is buried at the Lincoln Boyhood National Monument. His sister, Sarah, who died during childbirth, is buried with her still-born child across the highway at the state park.

The monument is open during the festival. Santa Claus also is home to the nation's first theme park, which opened as Santa Claus Land in 1946, even before Walt Disney's theme park in California. Named Holiday World today, it's combined with the Splashin' Surf water park, the state's largest. Those attractions aren't open in winter. But, never fear, the Christmas in Santa Claus Festival offers much to do, including a large craft fair at two locations Santa's Lodge hotel and the Santa Claus American Legion.

There's ah all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with Santa "at" the United Methodist Church Campground, gingerbread decorating with Santa at St. Nick's Restaurant, an open house and Santa writing at the Village Scribe Shoppe and creat-' ing holiday decorations at The Holly Tree Christmas Shop. A high-point is the Santa Claus Christmas Parade at 1 p.m. Saturday. A 14-mile festival of lights also is held by the gated-community, Christmas Lake Village.

Admission is free. Not far away in Lincoln City, Buffalo Mistletoe is held at Buffalo Run Farm, where live buffalo roam. The area has several motels and hotels. For more information, visit www.legendaryplaces.org or phone (888) By Scott Richardson srlchardsondipantagraph.com SANTA CLAUS, Ind. There's a zip code more sought-after this time of year than Beverly Hills 90210.

It's Santa Claus 47579. That's the official designation for the post office in Santa Claus, the only post office in the United States named for the jolly fat man himself. People from all over address and stamp their Christmas cards, pack them all up and send them to the Santa Claus post office. Postal workers there apply a special hand-stamped postmark newly designed every Christmas and mail them on their way, said Vevah Harris, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. Letters from children addressed simply to "Santa Claus" often make their way to Santa Claus, too.

But, it's best to address them to Santa Claus at P.O. Box 799, Santa Claus, 47579, just to be sure. A club called Santa's Elves makes sure each child who includes a return address gets an answer from Santa. But the post office isn't the only place in Santa Claus where special things happen this month. With a population 2,000 located not far from Owensboro, Ky, the town hosts the Christmas in Santa Claus Festival Saturday and Dec.

12. Each year, the event draws several thousand people in search of a quaint, small-town atmosphere to find the true meaning of Christmas. "Some people make this a tradition," Harris said. "It's an old-fashioned Christmas." jITtfW DEDICATED I. THE CHILDREN DF TH Wit 'iSTiTtTrttWurr.

IN Local legend says the town got its name on Christmas Eve, 1852. Until then, the little berg was called Santa Fe, which is spelled like the town in New Mexico but pronounced with a long sound. The time had come to apply to the government for a post office, but town leaders faced a dilemma. They were told they could not use the name "Santa Fe" because one already existed in New Mexico As town members gathered in a church to discuss the problem, the wind blew the church doors open. The sounds of sleigh bells and children calling out the name "Santa Claus" drifted inside.

The name was adopted at once. Santa Claus, is famous for other reasons. It's just a few miles from Lincoln City, the place Abraham Lincoln called home from age 7 to 21. For The Pantaqraph There's no shortage of statues of Santa Claus in his namesake city in Indiana. Milwaukee CLOSER TO HOME Chicago iOVVA Map and numbered listing below shows our picks for some interesting upcoming festivals in the Midwest.

Peorla Bloomlnqton Y. i fhamnainn mw i.n....- wim CnFln(UU of his reindeer; breakfast, too. (309) 434-2250. Dec. 12 2004 Holidays Heyworth Style Parade, downtown Heyworth.

Floats, bands, more. (309) 473-3337. Dec. 18 Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, African-American Cultural Society, Decatur. Singing, dancing, poetry readings, food and a presentation and discussion of Nguzo Saba (the seven principles of Kwanzaa).

(217) 429-7458. Through Dec. 31 East Peoria Festival of Lights, downtown East Peoria and other locations. City-wide holiday lights display, other events. (800) 747-0302.

Dec.11 Christmas in the Park, Miller Park, Bloomington. A family-themed evening of caroling, sleigh rides, caroling and more. (309) 434-2250. Dec. 11 Breakfast with Santa, Miller Park, Bloomington.

Hang out with the jolly one and some 1 1 x. fV bike ij I IV Michigan I Chicago Return to the way Christmas used to be celebrated in the 1840s and 1860s at the historic Lincoln and and the Moore Home.UUJ; 345-1845 DEC. 11-12 Christmas at Apple River Fort Elizabeth Want to know what an 1830s Christmas was like? Visit the history fort where costumued interpreters will demonstrate winter activities such as candle dipping, sausage making and target shooting. (815) 858-2028 DEC. 11-12 Olde Tyme Christmas and Living History Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis Decorations and period music accompany re-enactments of 18th century life at the historic fort.

(618) 524-4712 DEC. 12 Farm Toy Show Dec. 12 Effingham Farm toys old and new -antiques, collectibles and more. (217) 342-6565 DEC. 17-18 Belleville Flea Market Belle Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville If you still haven't gotten everything for Christmas, a trip down south might be just the thing.

(618)235-0666 oat DEC. 27 OTHER FESTIVALS THROUGH DEC. 18 21st Annual Dickens of a Christmas Celebration Downtown Wheaton A lighted holiday parade, family activities, visits by Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, more. (630)682-0633 THROUGH DEC. 22 Christkindlmarket Daley Plaza, Chicago Get a taste and look of Europe during the holiday season at this venue that is patterned after the famous outdoor markets of Germany; merchandise includes handmade glass ornaments, wooden toys, silver jewelry, more.

(312) 744-3315 THROUGH JAN.1 Victorian Splendor Light Festival Forest Park, Shelbyville Another chance to ooh and ahh over elaborate holiday light displays in Shelbyville and along Starflake Trail throughout Shelby County. (217) 874-3529 THROUGH JAN.1 Twinkling Lights Tour Effingham County Not content to wait around until after Thanksgiving, the communities of Effingham, Mattoon, Taylorville and Shelbyville in southern Illinois organize a tour of holiday light displays in their communities. (800) 500-6286 THROUGH JAN. 2 Historic Belleville's Seventh Annual Gingerbread Walk Belleville, Illinois Enjoy a "funtastical" self-guided walk past shop windows filled with gingerbread houses and other creations. Stroll by "The Secret Lives of Teddy Bears" exhibit or enroll in the "Make-and-Take" gingerbread house classes.

(800) 677-WALK Horse-drawn wagon rides, Santa, live Nativity scene, barbershop chorus, more. (815) 456-3030 DEC. 10-11 Lucia Nights Bishop Hill A holiday celebration of St. Lucia, this Swedish festival of lights is centered around music at numerous locations throughout the village, including a concert by the Nova Singers. (309) 927-3345 DEC.

10-11 Winter Holiday Candlelight Walk Faust Park, St. Louis The mid-1800's homes of Faust Historical Village will be dressed according to historic examples with craftspeople, an activity station for kids where they can make period decorations and toys, and re-enactors demonstrating traditional entertainment and tours. (314) 532-7298 DEC. 11-12 Prairie Christmas Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Lerna THROUGH JAN. 6 Way of Lights Christmas Display National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, near Belleville A drive through scenic fantasy of nearly one million lights that wind past electro-art sculptures, life-size figures and displays that depict the Christmas Story.

A Christmas village, choirs, a Christmas Tree display and horse-drawn carriage rides add to the festivities. (618)397-6700 THROUGH JAN. 7 Art Saint Louis XX Art St. Louis, 917 Locust downtown St. Louis Twentieth annual exhibition featuring recent work in all mediastyles by St.

Louis regional artists. (314) 241-4810 DEC. 10 Jul Fest Rockford Enjoy a Scandinavian Christmas celebration via a holiday smorgasbord, entertainment that includes a Lucia Pageant, Norwegian dancers and a Swedish choir and more. (815) 397-1257 DEC. 10 Christmas in the Grove Franklin Grove SOURCE: ESRI, GDT FEATURED FESTIVAL Santa's town The post office isn't the only place in Santa Claus, Ind.

where special things happen this month. Located near Owensboro, the small town hosts the Christmas in Santa Claus Festival Saturday and Dec. 12. Each year, the event draws several thousand people who participate in a long list of activities. BEST BETS 1 Arrival at Camp River 1 Dubois Dec.

11-12 Lewis Clark State Historic Site, Hartford A re-ertactment of the arrival of the Lewis and Clark expedition at the mouth of the River Dubois, where the group established its 1803-04 winter encampment; demonstrations, more. (618)251-5811 2 Taste of Christmas Dec. 11-12 Galena's historic buildings are one of its tourist draws and during the holidays, a tour of parlors of four of the town's bed and breakfasts proves a popular way to experience that history with a holiday flare. (815) 777-2808 3 Christmas in the Canyon Dec. 11-12 Fulton Costumed villagers relive scenes from Christmases past and portray "unseen" spirits from the future in this community that straddles the Illinois River in northwestern Illinois.

(815) 589-2838 4 Victorian Christmas Tours Dec. 11-18 Oak Park Special holiday tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, focusing on how the family celebrated Christmas at the turn of the century. (708) 848-1976 5 Winter Solstice Sunrise Observance Dec. 19 Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville Something for all the really early risers out there. The reconstructed Woodhenge Sun Circle near Monks Mound is the meeting place for a program on the ancient post circle that long ago was used as a solar calendar.

Kwanzaa Celebration DuSable Museum of African American History, Chicago The seven principles of Kwanzaa are celebrated through music, dance, discussions and family activities. (773) 947-0600 i i Happy Holiday fr0nI. allegiant Non-stop jet service Amy Grant Vince Gill from Peoria to Las Vegas vvvvw.allegiantair.com 800-432-3810 or call your travel agent 1 A erfiyUw Bring the Family to Enjoy a 3rd Exciting Season! mm -fe. Nashville Orchestra in it a ft f)f) iiirflhiift-i-in Presented by verstock.com' Your Onbne Outlet the "Golf Savings Passbook" ft I mm This Friday! PEORIA CIVIC CENTER December 10 mwm at 7:30 pm mmf i-The Den at Coyote Creek Lincoln Elks Fox Creek Lick Creek North Greens Ironwood Indian Springs LeRoyC.C. El Paso Pine Lakes Atoaattfe WeaverWdge OuaS Meadows brpmhaseab Dinner Theatre mailt General Seating Tb, Twupm Tickets Still Available! SOLD 7T person or Sun, Dec 12 pm $5 in advance; $6 at the door rTVTn nrrnnr7 mmm I Table of 8: $85 Peoria Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster Outlets Charge-By-Phone at 309-454-5500 Order online at Ticketmaster.com Tickets may be purchased at Vale, Tom Parkway Foods, Berean and Provident Christian Bookstores! Ticket proceeds from Dec 8 performance to benefit Home Sweet Home Ministries! 1-800-788-LUNG www.Iungg8lfcard.6rg JffMnr.

Jay Goldberg Events AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION. t' fWmm.