AROUND THE COUNTY
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
Pawhuska Elementary collecting food through Friday
Pawhuska Elementary School is having a canned food drive to celebrate the spirit of giving that is central to our holiday observances. The school will collect canned foods through the month of November in preparation for Thanksgiving, with Friday, Nov. 22, being the last day for donations. All food baskets will be given to local families and to Rachel’s Closet, which is a food pantry within the junior high and the high school. Community members are asked to donate individual snacks (pudding, crackers, jerky, etc.). The third grade will be responsible for soups, the fourth grade will be responsible for vegetables, and the fifth grade will collect fruits. Pawhuska Indian Camp Elementary will collect dry goods (rice, beans, cereal, pasta, etc.).
UPDATE ON STUDENT ART FUNDRAISER
Schedule of fundraiser events updated
The public show date and auction for artwork entered into an art-driven fundraiser being conducted by Pawhuska Public Schools students will now be Thursday, Dec. 5. The fundraiser is intended to raise money for Pawhuska Public Schools teachers. This is the second year for the art activity, which is called “The Gallery Experience.” It is sponsored by Osage Casino.
BARNSDALL CHRISTMAS PARADE
Annual event is set for Saturday, Dec. 14
The Barnsdall Christmas Parade will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, on Main Street in Barnsdall. Families can visit with Santa Claus immediately after the parade, at the Barnsdall Community Center. There will be free treat bags for the kids. The winning float entries will be recognized with cash prizes — $200 for first place, $175 for second and $150 for third. The “Shop Barnsdall” drawings will be held at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. Individuals must be present at the drawing to win. There will also be free cocoa and hot dogs at the Community Center after the parade, courtesy of First Christian Church. The theme for the festivities is “Merry Christmas in Barnsdall.”
WOOLOROC LIGHT SHOW COMING
‘Wonderland of Lights’ to begin Nov. 29
A wonderful holiday tradition returns again this year at Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve with the spectacular “Wonderland of Lights.” The grounds and buildings of Woolaroc will be covered with more than 750,000 lights as the historic ranch transforms itself into a magical winter wonderland. The lights will be turned on Friday, Nov. 29, which is the day after Thanksgiving, and will be on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 5-9 p.m., through Dec. 22. Admission to Wonderland of Lights is $6 for adults and $1 for children 11 and under.
“This is truly one of those wonderful family traditions for so many people,” said Woolaroc CEO Bob Fraser. “We have families who meet here at Woolaroc each year to celebrate their ‘family Christmas’ during our lights. In addition to the lights, we have wagon rides, live entertainment, Santa Claus in the Museum, hot cider/hot chocolate and cookies for sale in the Lodge; and, if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the Holiday Horseman, covered in lights, riding across the grounds. To have the chance to walk the grounds as holiday music drifts through the trees, enjoying the lights, hearing the laughter of children - this is the way things should be this time of year,” Fraser said.
“The Ranch Crew takes care of the Haunted Grove and the main buildings in addition to taking care of the Wagon Rides,” Fraser said. “It is a big undertaking and one that involves every employee at Woolaroc…but it is something that everyone looks forward to as one of the special things that we do each year. The sparkle in the eyes of the children as they walk around makes all the work worthwhile.”
Entertainment will be in the Heritage Theater almost every Friday and Saturday night. Again this year, the main drive to the campus will be reversed, allowing guests the unique view of the buildings across from Clyde Lake, outlined in lights.
Woolaroc is located 12 miles southwest of Bartlesville on State Highway 123 and 45 miles northwest of Tulsa. For more information, call Woolaroc at 918-336-0307, extension 10 or 11.