The Carol of Lights, Lampasas’ annual Christmas festival and one of the premier events of the Central Texas holiday season, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3rd from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm in the historic downtown Courtyard Square District of Lampasas. Carol of Lights Co-Chairpersons Dianna Hodges and Jim Rutland expect a large turnout of local and area visitors, and several activities have been planned for the official start of Lampasas’ Christmas season. “ Our Carol of Lights committee has done an excellent job in planning and coordinating several activities designed to bring folks to see Lampasas, “ stated Rutland, a local businessman. Hodges, who is also chairperson of the community group VISION LAMPASAS !, emphasized that several attractions are family-oriented, adding, “ there is something for everyone in the entire family at Carol of Lights. “ The day-long festival kicks off with the Boot Scoot Jingle 5K Run, Walk, and Kids Run, which will begin at the Boot Mural at 409 S. Western Avenue at 10:00 am. The race is organized by Lampasas ISD Employee Wellness, and check-in and registration is at 9:00 am, with the 5K starting at 10:00 am, and the Kids Run and 1K Fun Run taking place at approximately 11:00 am. Although no registration fee is required, a $ 15 donation per family is suggested, with proceeds benefitting the LHS Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) Chapter and the Lampasas Lions Club. For directions and a race course map, call 512-734-3991. In addition, the Town and Country Study Club’s Christmas Bazaar will be hosted in the Lampasas County Courthouse on the courthouse square from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm. The Keystone Museum, located at 303 S. Western Avenue, will be open fromk 10:00 am until 7:00 pm with their “ Candy Cane Lane” Gingerbread House and Christmas Tree Display . The Museum will also conduct a fund raiser Bake Sale at the museum from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm. And, the Keystone Museum’s Annual Tour of Homes will take place Sunday Dec. 4th from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Tickets are $ 7.00 and are available at The Word Christian Bookstore, located at 515 E. Third St. Tour Tickets will also be available at the Keystone Museum Sunday Dec. 4th. Other festival activities include ornament making for children at the Santa House inside the My Girls building located at 415 E. Third St. from 2:30 until 5:00 pm, and Story Time at the same location with Mrs. Santa and volunteers from the Lampasas Public Library telling Christmas stories from 2:30 until 5:00 pm. Other attractions include a Texas Kids Train ride, Classic Car exhibition, as well as singing groups from the PERCEPTION CREATIVE ART SCHOOL and the First St. Church of Christ HIMS OF PRAISE, who will stroll through downtown restaurants and shops singing Christmas carols during the afternoon. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered by Diamond S. Carriages during the afternoon, and members of the Lampasas High School Flames Drill team will be selling Frito pies, nachos, soft drinks and hot chocolate near the bandstand. In conjunction with the weekend’s activities, Karen DeZarn with the Texas Agrilife Extension Office will present a program from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm on Saturday, Dec. 3rd entitled, “ Cooking Well with Diabetes” and the program will be conducted both Dec. 3rd and Dec. 10th in the County Annex conference room. Families can bring children to see Santa Claus in the entrance lobby at Windsor Foods, located at 601 E. Third Street, from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm. The day’s activities conclude with the official lighting of the Courthouse Lights at 6:00 pm on the bandstand, with welcome remarks from State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, Lampasas County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse, and city of Lampasas Mayor Jerry Grayson, followed by the 2nd Annual Windsor Foods Lighted Christmas Parade beginning at 6:30. KCYL/KACQ’S Ronnie Witcher will emcee this year’s parade. Parade viewing starts at the intersection of Western Avenue and 2nd Street heading west, with the route turning left on Chestnut Street and turning left again onto Third Street. Parade viewing ends at the Windsor Foods plant entrance at the intersection of Third Street and Pecan Street. This year’s Windsor Foods Lighted Christmas Parade Grand Marshall is longtime Windsor Foods employee Leona Gill . Carol of Lights committee members include Keystone Museum board members Carol Wright, Gay Gorman, and Susan Dietrick, Lampasas Public Library representative Shanda Subia, First Texas Bank representatives Pam Hunter and Annie Trotter, Town and Country Study Club members Teresa Faught and Holly Wolfe, Courtyard Square members T.J. Monroe and Jim Rutland, Windsor Foods Human Resources director Sue Cruz, Lampasas Dispatch Record advertising specialist Teresa Thornton, Lampasas ISD School Health Director Jamie Jones, Janet Sievers, Buddy Southards with Diamond S Carriage Rides, and Vision Lampasas ! Chairperson Dianna Hodges.