Make it a December to Remember in Steuben County!

The first full weekend of December is full of activities to help you make memories with friends and family.

Head to downtown Angola Friday, Dec. 6 for a free horse-drawn wagon ride.

Meet at the Brokaw Movie House to take a leisurely ride to Cameron Memorial Community Hospital to see the large Christmas village on display. Rides that evening will be leaving from both the Brokaw and the hospital.

Take in the beautiful view of the Soldiers’ Monument decked out for the season as northeast Indiana’s largest Christmas tree. A Christmas Walk featuring five stops in the downtown is set for Friday night. Tickets are $10 each or $20 per family and are available at Cahoots Coffee Cafe, 218 W. Maumee St.

Shopping

If you’re looking to start (or finish!) your shopping, both Wishing Well Studio & Gifts in Fremont and 4 Corners Gallery in Angola host open houses Friday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 8. 4 Corners is hosting an artist reception Saturday, Dec. 7 between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., complete with holiday treats.

Fairview Missionary Church

For more than 25 years, Fairview Missionary Church in Angola has gathered more than 200 volunteers to depict the streets of Bethlehem the day after the birth of Christ. Bethlehem Marketplace, a free indoor walk-through drama, is open Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Meet Santa

Bring the kids to meet Santa following the Fremont Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 7. Visit with the jolly old elf between 6 and 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion and get a free picture. Santa (and Mrs. Claus) also makes an appearance at the Potawatomi Inn Sunday, Dec. 8. Enjoy brunch with Santa between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are required by calling 260-833-1077.

Want to see a real reindeer?

Come out to the Fremont Public Library Saturday, Dec. 14 between 1 and 2:30 p.m. and make some festive crafts after you greet the reindeer.
Trine University is hosting several holiday events leading up to Christmas. On Sunday, Dec. 8, head to the T. Furth Center for Performing Arts for a free Christmas concert. On Sunday, Dec. 15, the annual Fort Wayne Philharmonic Holiday Pops Concert begins at 2 p.m. while the Steuben County Festival Choir presents Handel’s Messiah Sunday, Dec. 22. Tickets for both the holiday pops concert and Handel’s Messiah can be purchased at www.trine.edu/furth

Pokagon State Park

Pokagon State Park offers a huge variety of free events in December. A one-mile lantern-lit snowshoe walk is set for Saturday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m., while the women’s monthly group hike is Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. The Christmas Eve morning hike always proves to be a popular event as the park’s naturalist takes walkers on a 90-minute stroll through the park’s interior. Partake in some holiday treats at the CCC Shelter and warm yourself by the fire. Events are free and the normal gate fee of $7 per Indiana vehicle and $9 per out-of-state vehicle will be charged.
For a complete listing of Steuben County events, visit lakes101.org