Christmas at Smokies Baseball

Just a few pictures of the fun we had at the Tennessee Smokies baseball game last night ~ since the team lost, I think we had a little more fun than they did…but it was a marvelous night for a ballgame.  The staff of the Smokies are a delight to work with – and the fact that they really enjoy bringing baseball to East Tennessee shows in their service style.  The stadium is situated high above the highway, convenient but with a good view of the mountains, and I hear the fireworks are spectacular on Friday nights.

Our beautiful Christmas Place & Inn at Christmas Place banner

Christmas wreaths adorning the entrance gates

Letters to Santa Mailbox

(Yes, we do read all the letters – several people at the park mentioned that they love the name Bob.  Hmmm.  Not sure what Santa is expected to do with that.)

Pre-game interview with Santa and elf Dwight from The Inn Santa throws out the first pitch

There's always a line to see Santa!

Santa gives autographs

Santa enjoys a Christmas cookie on the big screen

Armchair Viewing

Two lucky winners enjoy watching the game from a pair of lounge chairs!  This pair won a couple of Singing Santa Cds and a batch of homemade Christmas cookies from Mrs. Claus’ Candy Kitchen.

In addition to the decorations we provided at the stadium, the field games were all Christmas contests, like a wreath toss and a wrap-a-package race.  Winners received fudge from our kitchen, a gift card to the store, and a stuffed teddy bear.   The grand prize winner will get to experience a stay at The Inn at Christmas Place, including a night on our Sleep In Heavenly Peace mattresses and pillows and a hot breakfast in the morning.

One of our team, Cody Myers, also got to throw a pitch at the game, but it happened so fast I didn’t get to focus - he’s got a lightening arm, I tell you, too fast for my camera.  Congrats on a great job, Cody!

I’m just saying, that Chicken Man is the stuff of nightmares – shudder.  I would not chase that thing around the field, no way, no how.  Well, maybe in a really big car.  With one of those big cattle guards mounted to the front.  (Why do SUVs in East Tennessee bolt on cattle guards, when it’s clear they are nowhere near any herds of water buffalo, rampaging or otherwise?)  No offense, but men should be men and chicken should be chicken (preferably boneless and skinless), and let’s leave it the way nature did it first.

Hey, sure hope you can join us the next time we do Christmas In July – at the Smokies, or at The Inn, or anywhere else.  It’s a fun thing to do in the middle of summer!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Santa’s Got New Digs!

Check it out, here’s a tiny sample of Singing Santa on his new stage!

Notice the new overalls, too – summer time, and Santa’s taking it easy.

The new stage was designed to make it easier for kids and adults to get a better view of Santa.  Beautifully crafted and elaborately decorated, you’ll really be able to enjoy his concerts in this new space.  He’s back in the store Thursday through Monday for the rest of the year.  Come on over!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Two for Tuesday

It’s a beautiful day here in the foothills of the Smokies – a cool and sunny spring day.  I hope you’ve had a wonderful day in your part of the world.

Today, I’m showing you a couple of very clever new displays that are coming to the store.  Do you, like me, enjoy watching 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” each December?  (well, maybe more like 4 or 5 hours of…) Department 56 has a collection of houses and accessories recreating the scenes and characters of that iconic film, and we’ve created our own display in the store – including the famous and fragile (we all know it’s pronounced fra-gee-lay) Major Award!

New for 2009, D56 has added The Fire House, The Bumpus House, and Pulaski’s Candy Store.  One of my favorite pieces is included in this scene, Pink Nightmare, poor Ralphie in the pink bunny suit!

Singing Santa’s new performance stage is really looking great!  A local artist and former Christmas Place employee, Andrea, has been adding elves and decorations all over the walls around the stage area.  I want you to be among the first to have a glimpse of the new area, which should be open by this weekend, if all goes well.

Singing Santa Performance Stage at Christmas Place

It’s going to be a truly grand space in which Santa will perform and greet visitors.  I don’t think you’ll find any stray paint cans around when Santa is in residence!

Only 220 days til Christmas – it’s really time to start organizing your gift lists for December…I’m just saying…oh, and thinking about replacing your old Christmas tree and adding some energy efficient LED lights this year.  They have a new style that is flat on the top of the bulb, no more sharp pointy bits to avoid!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

 

Just in from the North Pole

Breaking news!  Singing Santa will be back at Christmas Place on Saturday, April 25th!

We hear he’s been having a great time at the beach, but he’s missing the kids, and is anxious to get back to town.

If you can’t wait til then, surf on over to the Incredible Christmas Place on Facebook and watch a couple of videos of  a special concert he gave for staff children back in February. 

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Singing Santa

Have I ever told you about our Singing Santa?  I know I have mentioned him before, but I don’t think I’ve even shared a photograph! 

Singing Santa is a Grammy-award-winning artist who sings and plays guitar, and has performed with several national country and gospel groups and in theatres.  He has been entertaining kids and adults both at the store and at The Inn for the past eleven years.  Santa has recorded several CDs of Christmas, sacred, and patriotic music.  From Memorial Day through Christmas, he entertains store patrons with concerts five days a week, and greets and performs for Inn guests as well.  He is appearing every weekend at the hotel now – there has been no long winter’s nap for our Santa! 

A generation of children is growing up with our Singing Santa as their go-to guy for Christmas.  Santa enjoys hearing children’s wishes here at the store, and posing for photographs with children, adults, families, family pets – you name it, he’s happy to be in the picture!  His beard is real, as is his round little belly.

On Tuesday, we filmed a concert at the Inn, and we’ll soon be sharing the footage with our readers.  Here’s a still image from the show.

Singing Santa in concert at The Inn at Christmas Place

We invited our Christmas Place employees to bring their children to this special concert, and I think the parents shot as much footage as I did.  To protect the innocent parents, we will not be identifying the children in any scenes…  They always have a great time with Santa, and enjoy helping him sing Jingle Bells.  One little girl stood right beside Santa with her hand lightly resting on his knee for the rest of the show that night.  Santa is assisted by his elf, Buttons.

Santa monkey-s around!

NO, this is not one of the kids from the concert!

Be watching for the video – I don’t think you can hear my vocal accompaniment on the tape – I really hope not!

If you haven’t yet met Singing Santa, we hope you’ll come by the store later this year and take in a concert and have your picture made with him.  He has a beautiful voice, and a winning way with children and adults ~ he is a living embodiment of the spirit of Christmas.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

We have them dancing in the – well, the courtyard!

We weren’t quite dancing in the street, but we had several rousing rounds of The Chicken Dance in the courtyard today, along with a few Polkas ~ courtesy of John & Becky Lowery and friends who entertained the crowds on two German street organs and an accordion.

The hand-crank organ was custom-made in Germany, and the performers were even able to select the paintings that decorate the case.  The pipes in front are carved, and tunes are played by a punched-paper music roll run through rollers.  The sound is similar to a calliope or hurdy gurdy.

The crowd really enjoyed dancing along with the music!

Along with the two organs, one performer entertained on this beautiful accordion.

It was great fun to watch, sing, and dance along with the group ~ no lederhosen required! ~ and a great start to our very busy weekend.

We’ve packed Saturday’s schedule with artist signings and activities:

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pebbie Mott of Pebbie Art is signing her delightful Department 56 Village backdrop prints.
• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Trieste is in the store to demonstrate the Ne’Qwa technique of painting mouth-blown glass ornaments – on the INSIDE surface!
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Kristi Pierro, the creator of Snowbabies, will be signing Department 56 Snowbabies and Village houses (and we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Snow Village Halloween collection).
• Opening at 9 a.m., five vendors will be in a tent in our courtyard participating in the Department 56 Secondary Market, selling retired village houses and collectibles.  The Secondary Market continues on Sunday.
• Team Kirkwood will be in the courtyard from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. entertaining with clowning and balloon animals.
• Parrot Mountain will be here all day with a selection of exotic birds.
• Singing Santa will be in concert several times during the day, as well as available for visits and photos.

I need to get some rest before all the fun begins in the morning ~ and I believe it’s scheduled to be another spectacular fall day in the Smokies!  Come join us!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Artists Visiting The Incredible Christmas Place

As with any collectible, the artist’s signature on a piece measurably increases its value.  We have already scheduled several signing events for the summer and fall.  These events present a great opportunity for you to purchase the newest collectibles in a line and have them signed by the artist who was inspired to create the piece.

Often, there are presales of new items ~ so you can order ahead, have your piece signed during the event, and we’ll ship it directly to you after the event.  If possible, wouldn’t it be more fun to come on down to the store and meet the artist in person?  I haven’t experienced one yet myself, but I hear that it’s a kick to meet and talk with them in the store.

• Friday, July 18, 2008 – Mark Roberts, creator of Fairies and Santas ~ there are new, exclusive pieces which may be preordered by calling the store and will be shipped to you after the event.
• Saturday, July 19, 2008 – Charming Tails signing ~ there will be a piece or two sold exclusively during the signing event.
• Saturday, October 4, 2008 – Kristi Pierro, Department 56 and Snowbabies ~ the spring releases have just been announced, and we’ll be preselling several pieces in both collections.
• Saturday, October 4, 2008 – NeQwa ~ one of the artists who creates these exquisite, hand-painted ornaments will be in the store.
• Saturday, October 18, 2008 – John Satterfield, San Francisco Music Box

Of course, mixed in with all these signings, we’ll also have the usual summer exclusive happenings here at The Christmas Place.

• June 14-15, 2008 ~ Garden Party, with face-painting for the kids, fun and games, and general merriment throughout the store and courtyard.
• June 15, 2008 ~ Father’s Day celebration.
• July 1, 2008 ~ Singing Santa is available for individual and family photos in the store.
• July 4, 2008 ~ Uncle Sam is in the house.
• August 30-31, 2008 ~ Annual Labor Day Sidewalk Sale (bargains all over the place).

We do keep things hopping around here, even before Santa and the elves are back from summer vacations!  Come on by and stop in for a visit.  What better way to cool off in the heat of summer than with a trip to the North Pole?  (We have one here, uh-huh, I’ve seen the sign!)

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Busy Spring in East Tennessee

Already here in East Tennessee, the frosty crystals of winter mornings are being supplanted by the white and pink petals and green leaves of early spring – and none too soon for those of us longing for more hours of sunshine in the day.  (And just who thinks this “daylight savings” is a good thing?  Why am I once again getting up before dawn?  What I’d like to be saving is darkness for sleeping and daylight for getting up!  Who’s with me on this?!)  Wait, where was I?

March 12th thru June 8th join us for the annual Springfest celebration here in Pigeon Forge - after winter in the mountains, we know how to make the most of spring.  On Friday, April 11th, Dolly Parton serves as grand marshall for the Dolly Parade, kicking off activities throughout the area.  March 21st thru May 5th, check out Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, an annual event showcasing music, dance, art, and foods from around the world.  In April, there’s the Spring Grand Rod Run, the annual classic car, truck, and motorcycle pilgrimage to the valley.

Here at The Christmas Place, we welcome back our Singing Santa for appearances Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays starting March 22nd!  And don’t forget that the Easter Bunny will be here on Sunday, March 23rd, posing for pictures and handing out treats.

In April, we have a special week-long event on our calendar - Department 56 Village designer Bryon Shroats will be here in the store to rebuild our villages and showcase new pieces the week of April 7-11.  We’re hosting a reception for Bryon on April 11th.  Watch for more information about this event in the coming weeks.

April 25th thru 27th Tennessee offers up a tax-free shopping weekend, a great time to come by the store and stock up on goodies for next Christmas, as we are already displaying new 2008 products on our shelves.

Just up the road in Knoxville, the Dogwood Arts Festival takes place April 4th thru the 23rd.  The calendar is crowded with events and art shows, contests and concerts, a parade and garden shows, and opportunities to experience the beauty of the area on neighborhood Dogwood Trails.

Jump in the car and come to East Tennessee!  We’re “bustin’ out all over” for the chance to meet you.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place