Mercer fairgrounds is getting festive

The fairgrounds is getting into the holiday spirit.

Mercer County Fairgrounds announced last week it is hosting a new Christmas decoration drive-through event this year beginning the day after Thanksgiving.

The fairgrounds are being brightened up with Christmas decorations. There will be at least 18 themed stations, two 100-foot tunnels and several towering displays. There will be more than 500,000 lights for visitors to view as they drive along a 1.1-mile path through the fairgrounds.

Santa will also be making visits to the site over the course of the next month. 

The Christmas attraction will remain open through Dec. 27.

For more information, visit mercercountyohiofair.com.



Auction continues

Arts Place’s adjusted Holiday Benefit Auction schedule continues next week.

With silent and radio auctions already complete, the organization will finish off the modified annual event with an online auction at 6:30 p.m. Monday on Facebook Live.

For more information, email [email protected] or call (260) 726-4809.



Hunters can help

Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry announced that it is continuing the “Meat” the Need initiative in which hunters can donate their large game to help local food banks.

Hunters who are interested in donating wild game (deer, elk and buffalo) can do so by visiting a participating processor, including Adair Processing, Fisher Packing and Wright Brothers Buckstop in?Jay County. (Hunters should call ahead, as space may be limited.) There is no charge to the hunter.

More than 1.7 million pounds of deer and livestock have been donated over the last 10 years.



Help is needed

LifeStream is looking for volunteers to help with efforts to brighten the holiday season through its AngelWish program for older adults who are isolated.

The program coordinates delivery of gifts to older adults in the 12-county area, including Jay.

Those interested in helping out can sign up to deliver gifts between Dec. 4 and 24 or make a monetary donation, both by visiting lifestreaminc.org/angelwish. Donations are also being accepted by mail at 1701 Pilgrim Boulevard, Yorktown, IN 47396.

For more information, contact Laura Bray at [email protected] or call (765) 759-3372.



Hosting Whoville

Jay County Public Library will host “Whoville’s Joy of Giving Kids Shopping Night” from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3.

The event is for children ages 4 through third grade who will get to “buy” a gift for two family members. They must complete four tasks — check out a Christmas book, make a Christmas card for local retirement home residents, write a letter to Santa and take a selfie with the Grinch at the library — to earn a ticket to get into Whoville. They will then get to choose from a variety of gifts, and the library’s Whoville helpers will help them with wrapping.

Parents will not be allowed while children are shopping. Reservations are required by calling (260) 726-7890.



Sessions available

MDwise is offering informational sessions for those who have health coverage through the Healthy Indiana Plan, as those individuals have until Dec. 15 to change their plans.

Virtual events will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon Monday and 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday. Additional online seminars will continue through mid-December.

To sign up for one of the events, visit mdwise.org.