JJC - Fall Festival & Holiday Guide - October 2023

HOLIDAY GUIDEFall&Festival

October 6, 2023

Holiday Guide Calendar • October - December

Make your turkey terrific this Thanksgiving

Christmas stocking decorating tips and tricks

38th annual Pilot Club

Sunday, Dec 3, from 1-5 p.m. Holiday Home Tour & Tea

Tea will be at 1061 East Morton at Twisted Tree

The Home Tour will include the following homes:

October 2023

Every Thursday-Saturday 1:00pm-5:00pm

Fall & Holiday Décor

Clear Creek Mercantile 131 N. Pitt, Virginia

Sunday, October 8th 10:30am-1:00pm

Carry-Out Style Soup Luncheon

Tickets $7 in advance; $8 at the door

Choice of broccoli cheddar, chicken & wild rice or vegetable

Faith Lutheran Church 1385 W Walnut, Jacksonville

Saturday & Sunday October 14th & 15th

Fall Open House

Special Sales and drawings

Beardstown Antique Mall 2104 Wall Street, Beardstown

Saturday, October 21st

10:00am-2:00pm

Pumpkin Festival

Tickets available online. Jacksonville Main Street

Sunday, October 22nd

6:00pm

Free Two by Two Concert

Murrayville Community Building 503 Main, Murrayville

Sunday, October 29th

5:00pm

Community Weiner Roast

Bring a dish to share Murrayville Park

November 2023

Tickets are available at the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hy-Vee and any Pilot member.

Current members of the Pilot Club of Jacksonville are: Shelle Allen, Madi Allen, Barb Austin, Vickie Austin, Diana Bushnell, Joann Chumley, Delsie Clancy, Beth Ellers, Diane Farmer, Martha Hauck, Karla Henderson, Nancy Holt, Linda Meece, Claire Moos, Sue Morrow, Patty & Dale Osborne, Lisa Pierce, Sharon Rohlfs, Angela Salyer, Zoellen Smith, Karla Stice, Joyce Surbeck, Billie Summers, Sue Tapscott, Sue Fisher Thomas, Carol Wallbaum, Caron Yates, and Tina Young.

Christmas Open House

Friday, Nov. 10th & Saturday, Nov. 11th 9:30am-5pm

Every Thursday-Saturday 1:00pm-5:00pm

Fall & Holiday Décor

Clear Creek Mercantile 131 N. Pitt, Virginia

9:30am-5pm

HOLIDAY GUIDE CALENDAR >>> CONTINUED

Thursday, November 2 4:00pm-7:00pm

Sip ‘n’ Shop

at downtown pubs & stores

Jacksonville Main Street

Thursday, November 2 4:00pm-7:00pm

Sip ‘n’ Shop

All Occasions Flowers & Gifts

229 South Main, Jacksonville

Thursday, Friday & Saturday

November 9th, 10th & 11th

Thursday & Friday ~ 9:00am-5:30pm

Saturday ~ 9:00am-1:00pm

Specials Everyday

Special discounts for Veterans on Veterans Day

Pharmacy Plus

508 N Main, Carrollton

Friday & Saturday

November 10th ~ 9:00am-6:00pm

November 11th ~ 9:00am-2:00pm

Holiday Open House

All Occasions Flowers & Gifts

229 South Main, Jacksonville

Friday & Saturday

November 10th & 11th

9:30am-5:00pm

Christmas Open House

Primrose & Lace

635 East Morton Ave, Jacksonville

Friday, Saturday & Sunday

November 10th-12th

Friday & Saturday ~ 9:00am-4:00pm

Sunday ~ 12:00pm-3:00pm

Christmas Open House

Start Your Christmas Season With Us!

Tipsord’s Florist & Gifts

776 Old Route 36, Winchester

Friday, Saturday & Sunday

November 10th-12th

Open 10:00am-5:00pm Every Day

Christmas Open House

10% off both malls

Nickorbobs

14260 Frazee Rd, Divernon

Hilda’s Antique Mall

14266 Frazee Rd, Divernon

Saturday, November 18th 9:00am Until Sold Out

Cookie Walk

Holiday Cookies & Candies

$5.00/lb.

Centenary United Methodist Church 331 E State, Jacksonville

Join us for Our Christmas Open House

Thurs Nov. 9th, Fri Nov.10th, and Sat Nov.11th

Thursday & Friday 9-5:30 - Saturday 9-1

HOLIDAY GUIDE CALENDAR >>> CONTINUED

Saturday & Sunday

November 18th & 19th

9:00am-5:00pm

Auction Starts at 1:00pm

Festival of Trees

Beautiful trees and wreaths

Bow-wow bits for your special pet

Pathway

1905 W Morton, Jacksonville

Saturday & Sunday

November 18th & 19th

10:00am-5:00pm

Extended Christmas Sale

Nickorbobs

14260 Frazee Rd, Divernon

Hilda’s Antique Mall

14266 Frazee Rd, Divernon

Sunday, November 19th

6:00pm

Community Thanksgiving Service

Murrayville Community Building

503 Main, Murrayville

Saturday, November 25th

Small Business Saturday

All Occasions Flowers & Gifts

229 South Main St, Jacksonville

Saturday, November 25th

9:00am-11:00am

A Very Beard Christmas

2298 State Hwy 123, Ashland

December 2023

Every Thursday-Saturday

1:00pm-5:00pm

Fall & Holiday décor

Clear Creek Mercantile

131 N. Pitt, Virginia

Friday, December 1st

3:00pm-5:00pm

Cookie Walk

Homemade Cookies, candies, breads, etc

Salem Lutheran Annex

Corner of College and S. East Street, Jacksonville

Friday & Saturday

December 1 ~ 4:00pm-8:00pm

December 2 ~ 10:00am-4:00pm

Mistletoe Market

Santa Stroll

Coupons good thru Christmas’

Jacksonville Main Street

Friday & Saturday

December 1st & 2nd

10:00am-4:30pm

Christmas Open House

Specials, unique gifts

Woodyard’s

1851 S Main, Jacksonville

South Jacksonville Antique Mall

1850 S Main

Saturday & Sunday

December 2nd & 3rd

Christmas Open House

Beardstown Antique Mall

2104 Wall Street, Beardstown

Sunday, December 3rd

1:00pm-5:00pm

Pilot Club Home Tours

Tea 1-5 Twisted Tree 1061 East Morton

Homes:

2045 Heitz Road

Dr. Alex & Amy Hrynewych

124 Westminster Phronsie L Spaulding

857 State Street, 2nd Floor

Susan Weller

1275 Franks Road

Mike & Kristen Dunseth

1701 S Diamond

Tim & Sandy Sanders

301 E. State Street

Jacksonville Museum

HOLIDAY GUIDE CALENDAR >>> CONTINUED

Sunday, December 3

4:30PM

Community Christmas Tree Lighting

Murrayville Post Office Yard

Wednesday, December 6

Lunch 11:30; Concert 12:15

Advent Allegro

“The Extension Chords”

Faith Lutheran Church

1385 W Walnut, Jacksonville

Thursday, December 7th

8:00am-3:00pm

Gift Basket Give Away

Tickets $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5 Cookie/Candy walk • $6 per pound

Christmas Decorations

Jacksonville Area Senior Center

1309 S. Main, Jacksonville

Sunday, December 10th

10:15am

Christmas Cantata

Murrayville United Methodist Church

504 Main, Murrayville

Wednesday, December 13th

Lunch 11:30am • Concert 12:15pm

Advent Allegro

“The Extension Chords”

Faith Lutheran Church 1385 W Walnut, Jacksonville

Wednesday, December 20th

Lunch 11:30am • Concert 12:15pm

Advent Allegro

“The Extension Chords”

Faith Lutheran Church 1385 W Walnut, Jacksonville

Sunday, December 24th

9:00am

Christmas Eve Service

Murrayville United Methodist Church 504 Main, Murrayville

The leaves are tur ning and the air is crisp…. Fall is here….time to decorate your home, office, porch or patio.

Shop at Hilda’s and you’ll find many fine antiques and collectibles including furniture, glassware, vinyl, vintage stained glass lamps, vintage signs, sports cards, hot wheel cars…plus much more.

Nickorbobs has many fall decorations including florals for inside and outside, signs, furniture, boutiques, plus much more.

Don’t Miss the Annual Christmas Open House 3-day event from 10-5 November 10th, 11th, and 12th

Everything will be 10 % OFF in both malls. Plus we have an extended Christmas Sale November 18th and 19th.

Nickorbobs Home, Gifts Antiques & Boutiques 14260 Frazee Road Divernon, IL 62530 217-628-9191

Beardstown Antique Mall

Fa ll Open House & S a le OC TOBER 14TH - 15TH

Christmas Open House & Sale

Stop by and shop for holiday gif ts...or a little something just for yourself. Introducing our new Rustic/Farmhouse/Vintage Gif t line Special Sales. Drawings.

Hilda’s Antique Mall 14266 Frazee Road Divernon, IL 62530 217-628-9192

Mon-Sat 10-5 Sun 12-5

DECEMBER 2ND -3RD 2104 Wall Street, Beardstown, Il 217-323-4569

All Occasions Flowers & Gifts

229 S. Main St, Jacksonville, IL

Sip and Shop

Thursday, November 2nd • 4:00pm-7:00pm

Open House

Friday, November 10th • 9:00am-6:00pm

Saturday, November 11th • 9:00am-2:00pm

Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 25th

Watch our Facebook page for BIG SALES!

Safely decorate your home exterior this holiday season

A person doesn’t have to drive far or look too closely to be inspired by holiday decor come the month of December. Enthusiastic celebrants go to great lengths to express their holiday spirit, and that typically includes decorating their home exteriors.

Home holiday decorations are a tradition in millions of households. Though the tradition helps make this special time of year even more festive, decorating a home ex-

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FESTIVAL OF TREES 2023

WE RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF FESTIVAL OF TREES!

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AS YOU TAKE A STROLL THROUGH OUR CHILDREN’S ROOM AND THE ATTIC HOLIDAY ROOM! CHECK OUT THE BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED TREES AND WREATHS AS YOU ENJOY SOME DELICIOUS TREATS FOR YOURSELF. BE SURE TO TAKE HOME SOME “PATHWAY BOW-WOW BITS” FOR THAT SPECIAL PET IN YOUR LIFE!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18TH

9 00AM-5:00PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH

AUCTION STARTS AT 1 00PM

1905 W MORTON AVENUE

-479-2300217-

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terior for the holidays is not without certain safety risks. Homeowners must prioritize safety when decorating their home exteriors for the holidays. These tips can ensure the holiday season is as safe as it is special.

• Never decorate alone. The buddy system should be employed when decorating a home for the holidays. No fewer than two people should decorate a home. A second person can ensure a ladder remains steady while hanging lights and can help lift potentially heavy lawn decorations, thus reducing the risk for injury.

• Use the appropriate decorations and tools. The American Red Cross urges individuals to use only decorations designed for outdoor use when decorating their home exteriors. Indoor lights should never be strung outdoors, even on small spaces. In addition, the Red Cross recommends homeowners who intend to use nails or hooks to hang decorations first confirm they are insulated, which can help to avoid electrocution and reduce fire risk.

Continued on page 8

Shop local this holiday season for gifts for the holidays. Ladies apparel, children’s gifts, unique giftware, special holiday décor and gift certificates that everyone appreciates

• Plug decorations into the correct outlets. The energy experts at FirstEnergy note that outdoor lights and inflatable decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). Older homes may not be equipped with such outlets, particularly on their home exteriors. Replacing existing outlets with GFCIs is a quick and relatively inexpensive job that a professional electrician should be hired to handle before decorating for the holidays.

• Utilize a timer for exterior lights. Lights should be not kept on overnight, which can be costly and pose a safety hazard. Utilize a timer so lights come on at night and turn off around bedtime, if not earlier.

• Inspect decorations. Exterior string lights and other plug-in decorations should be inspected at the beginning of each season to ensure

there are no frayed or cracked wires. Damaged wires pose a significant fire hazard, so any damaged strands should be discarded and replaced.

• Pick the right day to decorate. Consult the weather forecast prior to decorating the exterior of a home. Pick a day when efforts to decorate won’t be compromised by wind, rain, snow, or other inclement weather. If it’s already snowed, avoid decorating until the snow has melted, as there could be ice lingering beneath the snow. It’s also unsafe to work on a snow-covered roof. Decorate on a day with ample daylight and pause decorating if weather takes a sudden, unexpected turn for the worse.

It can be fun to decorate a home’s exterior for the holiday season. But homeowners must prioritize safety and take every step necessary to reduce their risk for accident or injury.

These tips can help make turkey teriffic

Sweet potatoes may be stars; cornbread dressing a contender. Dinner rolls are divine and green bean casserole a go-to. But Thanksgiving dinner isn’t complete without turkey. Even in households that don’t eat meat, plantbased turkey alternatives find their way onto the dinner table in a nod to Thanksgiving tradition. Given the emphasis placed on the main course each Thanksgiving, cooking a turkey can be intimidating. These turkey-cooking tips can calm anyone’s nerves and result in a mouth-watering main course.

• Allow ample time for thawing. Some people may not be able to buy a fresh turkey, and millions of individuals purchase frozen turkeys each year. The Food Network says it can take 24 hours per every five pounds to thaw a turkey.

Therefore, if you have a 15-pounder, allow for three days for thawing. Always thaw a turkey in a refrigerator.

• Get the right size bird. The general rule of thumb is 1 pound (uncooked) to 11⁄2 pounds of turkey per person if you’re buying a whole turkey. Rather than purchasing the largest turkey you can find for a large crowd, consider two smaller turkeys or one turkey and one breast to make cooking more even. Smaller birds are more tender as well.

• Adjust the temperature. The food and cooking resource TheKitchn advises preheating an oven to 450 F, then dropping the temperature to 350 F after putting the turkey into the oven. Cook, on average, 13 minutes per each pound

of turkey. The turkey is done when it registers a minimum temperature of 165 F in the thickest part of the thigh.

• To brine or not to brine? Many food fanatics swear by brining turkey to achieve more moist and flavorful meat. However, a wet brine may not lead to the crispiest skin possible. Good Housekeeping suggests trying a dry brine instead. This involves rubbing salt all over the raw turkey, placing the bird into a large plastic bag, and refrigerating overnight or up to two days before cooking; otherwise, purchase a kosher turkey, which already has been salted from the inside out.

• Avoid stuffing the bird. Rather than stuffing the turkey and cooking everything en masse, prepare the stuffing

mixture separate from the turkey. This reduces the risk of contamination from the turkey’s raw juices and helps to achieve a crispy coating on the stuffing guests will enjoy.

• Make an aromatic roasting rack. Turkeys typically are placed on a metal rack for cooking so the juices do not cause the turkey to stick to the pan. However, you also can cut onions and lay them with a bed of whole celery stalks and carrots to elevate the roast. This creates extra flavor in the bird and the vegetables also can be served or mixed into the stuffing.

Some turkey-roasting techniques can ensure a moist and flavorful main course this Thanksgiving.

Inspiring ideas for last-minute holiday shoppers

It’s unlikely that anyone aspires to be a last-minute holiday shopper. Putting off holiday shopping until the last minute can make for a stressful home stretch to the season, and there’s no guarantee store shelves won’t already be picked clean or that gifts purchased online will arrive on time.

Despite how unappealing last-minute shopping can be, it’s still a fact of life for millions of holiday shoppers. As the clock winds down this holiday season, shoppers can look to these ideas for inspiration.

• Gift cards: Gift cards may never earn a distinction as the most sentimental item to give a loved one during the holiday season, but they are surprisingly sought-after. In fact, a survey from the National Retail Federation found that 54 percent of participants identified gift cards as the most-wanted gift of the 2022 holiday season. Chain retailers, small businesses and restaurants are among the many establishments that sell gift cards, so shoppers are bound to find a card to please anyone on their shopping list.

• Food/beverage: The hol-

iday season is a popular time to indulge in some great food and wash it down with a favorite wine or another adult beverage. That makes food and beverages a great holiday gift. Shoppers can take a loved one out

to a favorite restaurant, prepare a homemade treat or purchase a favorite dish from a local specialty grocery store or eatery. Pair the food with an appropriate beverage and this accessible last-minute gift idea

is sure to be a hit.

• Tickets: Tickets to a mov-

ie, sporting event, live theater performance, or concert are another gift idea that likely won’t be gobbled up by early bird shoppers. People of all ages enjoy experiences, and a 2022 survey from the travel booking platform GetYourGuide found that 50 percent of survey respondents indicated they would enjoy tickets to a concert or show.

• Books: Books make an ideal holiday gift for everyone from young kids to grandparents. Traditional print books are small enough that they can likely arrive on time

even if they’re purchased just a few days before Christmas. E-book sellers enable gift givers to pick the perfect time to notify loved ones they have received an electronic book. Audiobooks, which can be downloaded to a smartphone or given as a CD, make an ideal gift for loved ones who spend a lot of time behind the wheel.

Last-minute holiday shopping can be stressful. However, various sought-after items can be secured at the last minute, ensuring gift givers’ loved ones have a happy holiday season.

How to honor various faiths during a holiday party

The holiday season is a time to gather and celebrate with family. In recent years, families have become more and more diverse, particularly in regard to faith. For example, data from the Pew Research Center indicates that 46 percent of Jewish adults between the ages of 18 and 29 are children of interfaith marriages.

A greater number of interfaith marriages means it’s likely holiday hosts will be celebrating among family and friends with different religious backgrounds than their own. In an effort to ensure everyone feels welcome, hosts can consider these ways to honor various faiths during their holiday celebrations.

• Learn about other faiths. Knowledge of other faiths can help hosts create a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere during the holiday season. For example, a Christian host welcoming a Jewish friend or relative into their home for the holidays can learn about the festival of

Chanukah prior to opening their home to guests.

• Incorporate what you’ve learned into the party. After learning about the holiday celebrations of other

faiths, hosts can incorporate that new knowledge into their decor and celebration. When planning the meal, prepare a traditional holiday dish a guest might eat when celebrating their

own faith or culture. This can make for a meal that’s both welcoming and more flavorful at the same time.

• Let guests chip in. Extended family members and friends from different religious backgrounds may be proud of their faith and enthusiastic about the

chance to share it with the people they love most. A holiday gathering is the ideal time to embrace this spirit. Encourage guests from different religious backgrounds to bring something that reminds them of their own religious celebrations. That can be a particular food or bev-

erage, a playlist of holiday songs or a small gift such as an ornament to incorporate into holiday decor. Guests can then share as much as they would like to about their faith, including any holiday traditions that they typically engage in.

• Reduce emphasis on a particular holiday. When hosting friends and family during the holidays, avoid placing too great an emphasis on a particular religious holiday. It’s alright for hosts to offer well wishes and even recite prayers that reflect their faith, but try to emphasize how enjoyable it is for everyone to gather under one roof and celebrate the season together. Celebrating with family is a significant component of the holiday season for people of all faiths, so emphasizing togetherness during this special time of year is something all guests will appreciate.

Holiday hosts can embrace various strategies to make sure guests from all religious backgrounds feel welcome at their homes this holiday season.

Christmas stocking decorating tips and tricks

Hanging Christmas stockings is just one of the many traditions that fill the days leading up to Christmas. One theory regarding the origins of stockings says the tradition began when a poor widower who had three daughters worried over having enough money for their wedding dowries to help secure the daughters’ futures. The women, who had hung their stockings by the fireplace to dry, woke up to find solid gold spheres inside. This legend suggests kindly St. Nicholas visited the home in the night and left the presents, helping ensure the daughters could marry well, after all.

Christmas stockings

were the first places where gifts were stowed, before under the boughs of Christmas trees became the primary spot for placing gifts. Then stockings were secondary vessels reserved for small trinkets. Today stockings are largely Christmas decorations rather than places to place gifts. Still, they’re a key component of holiday magic.

When including stockings in holiday festivities, follow these tips for whimsy and more.

• Utilize stocking holders. Stocking holders are either metal or wooden devices that are placed on mantels. Hooks on the holders suspend the stockings.

Did you know?

Retail sales during the 2022 holiday season inched ever closer to crossing the trillion dollar mark. Though total retail sales during the November-December holiday season fell short of National Retail Federation forecasts, the group still reported that sales totaled $936.3 billion in that period in 2022. Though a host of variables, including inflation, affect how much consumers spend during a given holiday season, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that 2023 could be the year shoppers cross the trillion dollar threshold. That would require an increase of a little less than $64 billion in spending compared to 2022. Such an increase is not unheard of, even in a single year, as NRF calculations based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate holiday season spending between 2020 and 2021 increased by just under $106 billion.

Just be sure the holders are sturdy enough to handle the weight of a stuffed stocking if you plan on filling it with goodies.

• Determine your style. There are Christmas stockings that coordinate to just about any interior design style. From farmhouse to modern to traditional, choose one that fits with your aesthetic. That isn’t to say you can’t mix and match stockings if you prefer a more eclectic, homespun feel.

• Enhance your stocking look. If stockings are strictly decorative, enhance their look with a few tricks. First, use tissue paper or balled up shopping bags to stuff the stockings and give them shape. Fill a small baggie with sand or florist glass and place in the heel of the stocking to balance it out and prevent

the stocking from blowing around in the breeze.

• No fireplace; no problem. Stockings are traditionally hung from the fireplace mantel, but if you don’t have a fireplace there is

Tipsord ’ s Christmas Open House

Friday, November 10 9-4

Saturday, November 11 9-4

Sunday, November 12 12-3

no need to fret. Simply use ribbons to hang them from the bannister of a staircase, or hang stockings right on walls with removable hooks, or from sturdy shelves. You also can think creatively and hang

larger stockings on a door like you might a wreath.

Whether they’re decorative or functional, stockings can be an integral component of holiday decor in a home.

Cookie Walk

Friday, Dec. 1st - 3-5pm

Homemade cookies, candies, breads, etc