Here's something for your holiday calendar. It's Bluffton's oldest annual tradition.
Traditional new year's caroling/serenading of the two David Rothen hymns of pre-1840s will again be sung on Dec. 31, 2015, led by the Swiss Historical Society.
Carolers will start at the lobby of Mennonite Memorial Home, 410 West Elm St., Bluffton, at 5 p.m.
For new singers, if any of you wish to come 15 minutes earlier, that's a chance for new folks to familiarize themselves with words and tunes of these traditional two
Swiss-German songs. Music sheets will be furnished.
Bluffton's Relay for Life quarter auction and Bingo takes place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, in the Bluffton middle school cafetorium.
"We will be playing Bingo and bidding on gifts donated by several home businesses," said Lynda Best.
Gift donations are from:
• Thirty-one
• Pampered Chef
• Mary Kay
• Tastefully Simple
• Tupperware
• Sentsy
• Signature Home Styles
• Younique
• 3125 Walnut
Wendy Chappell-Dyck, along with several friends, will perform "Song of Forests and Thorns," twice this month.
Their performances are:
• Monday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m., at the Bluffton Public Library
• Saturday, Dec. 18, 9 to 11 p.m., at the Mustard Seed Cafe
Joing her are Teri Sato on bowed psaltry, Steve Harnish on recorder and Jan Wiebe on flute and vocal harmony. Chappell Dick will perform on chello and dulcimer.
The Bluffton/Pandora Swiss Community Historical Society Christmas open house, “Christmas at the Homestead,” will be on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Schumacher Homestead on Bixel Road.
The public is invited to tour the decorated 1843 house while snacking on homemade treats and listening to songs of the season.
Guests can watch food being prepared in the fireplace, hand dip a candle, play a game of checkers, shop in the gift shop and chat with staff about the history of the house and typical life in the 1840s.
Romick Railway for kids is one of Bluffton's Blaze popular activities. The railway will be in Saturday's parade. Following the parade it will provide rides of youngsters on Main Street in front of the Senior Citizens Center. (Santa and Mrs. Claus are inside the center.)
