Christmas Bingo in Round Top Friday

Friday, Dec. 16, it’s Lone Star Christmas Bingo at the Round Top Square from 7-9 p.m. Take a photo with a festively decorated longhorn, and enjoy the popup “saloon” presented by Mandito’s and Popi Burger. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and come compete for prizes including gift certificates and cash.

Deputy Santa Toy Drive

You have until this coming Thursday to drop unwrapped toys off at the Stone Cellar for the Fayette County Deputy Santa Program’s Annual Toy Drive. If you would like to make a cash or check donation, please contact Denise directly at the Cellar at (979) 633-3114.

Miracle on 34th Street

A showing of the classic Christmas movie, “Miracle on 34th Street” will air Saturday, Dec. 17 from 7-9 p.m. A hot chocolate pop-up will be at the Square to sweeten the experience. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs.

Old-Time Christmas Caroling

Enjoy an Evening of Old-Time Christmas Caroling hosted by the Shelby Area Historical Society on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Come out for a wonderful evening of singing and fellowship. Refreshments served afterward. Bring your favorite dish to share. There will also be a silent auction benefitting the Historical Society. Meet in the old church building on Skull Creek Road and don’t forget your flashlight. If it’s cold, bring blankets as well - the old church isn’t heated.

Photos with The Grinch

Friday, Dec. 23 get your photo taken with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who at the Town Square from 11 a.m.-1 p.m..

Other Local Events

Paul Finley will perform at Busted Oak Cellars Friday, Dec. 16 from 6-9 p.m. Trey Yenger takes the stage Saturday from 3-6 p.m. Mitch Marcoulier plays Sunday from 2-5 p.m. Busted Oaks will close early on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas day.

Rob Moorman will perform at The Stone Cellar Friday at 7 p.m., Risky Liver performs Saturday at 7 p.m. Next Friday, Dec. 22, come out for Jingle Bell Jam at 7 p.m. This is open to all musicians. Bring your instruments and enjoy the first community sing-along. All ages are welcome. TSC will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They will, however, be open for New Year’s Eve.

Come party at the Round Top Dance Hall with the Black Cat Choir. This is a ticketed event. For a $55 general admission ticket, enjoy a BBQ dinner catered by LJ’s BBQ. VIP tables are available and include eight tickets, two bottles of wine, party favors, and designated bartenders. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., dinner is served from 6:30-8 p.m., and live music starts at 8 p.m. Champagne is served at midnight. The Stone Cellar will be closed the first week of January.

Harmonie Hall is hosting their annual NYE dance as well. Send 2022 away and welcome 2023 by dancing to the sounds of Southern Daze. Doors open at 7 p.m., with dancing from 8 p.m.-midnight. Black-eyed peas will be served to bring luck in the new year. Tickets are $15 each, cash at the door. The bar will be open for beer, wine coolers, and set-ups. The kitchen will be closed for this dance, so feel free to bring your snacks. No credit cards accepted. No coolers or beer may be brought into the hall.

Round Top Rifle Hall

The Round Top Rifle Hall Monday Night Hamburger Socials have wrapped up for 2022. They will resume on Jan. 9.

The annual New Year’s Eve dance is planned once again. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the dance starts at 8:30 p.m. Friends decorate their tables and share appetizers at a Community Snack Table. At midnight, cheers and toasts bring in the new year and the Hall serves the traditional cornbread and black-eyed peas for good luck in the upcoming year. Tickets are available at Round Top Mercantile or Round Top State Bank.

For more information about the Rifle Hall or to book it for upcoming events, visit roundtoprifle. com.

Round Top Family Library

Round Top Family Library is open Monday – Friday from 1:30-5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Art After School, Chess Club, and Kids Garden will resume the week of Jan. 9. A Security and Self-Defense seminar is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14 from 8 a.m.12 p.m. at the Library Annex. David McCall is presenting this free seminar on safety and security in the home and while traveling. The techniques covered were developed specifically for women but work for men too. This is a free class but registration is required as the class size is limited to 20. All participants must be 17 or older.

The 18th annual RTFL Chili Cook-Off is set for Saturday, Jan. 21 at The Stone Cellar. To register your team visit the library’s website. For more information about any of the programs offered by the library, call (979) 249-2700, or visit ilovetoread.org.

Historical Society

The RTAHS museum has free admission every second Saturday of the month from 1-4 p.m. Take the opportunity to view three historical homes and a historical church. Private tours are welcome. For more information call (979) 249-5058 or visit

roundtopareahistoricalsociety. weebly.com.

Festival Hill

Enjoy a Festival Hill Christmas Concert featuring A Joyus Christmas Choir, Brad Nix, and Joseph Martin, Saturday, Dec. 17 from 3-4:30 p.m. This performance benefits the restoration of the little wooden church established in 1895 located in Bastrop.

Thursday, Dec. 22 at the Edith Bates Old Chapel on the Festival Hill grounds, enjoy “Jazz to the World,” a jazz version of the traditional “Lessons and Carols” Christmas Concerts. This performance will feature an all-star group of musicians and singers.

Dr. Linda Patterson will perform on the Henry Erben pipe organ in the Edythe Bates Old Chapel on Sunday, Jan. 1 at 4:00. She will be accompanied by various guest artists to perform duets as well. Adult $30. Student $10. Limited tickets are available. Advance reservations are required. Buy tickets online or by calling (979) 249-3129. Tickets will be held at the willcall table in the Edythe Bates Old Chapel.

Sons of Hermann

The Hermann Sons Life Christmas party was held Sunday, Dec. 11. The social hour started at 11 a.m. with refreshments and visiting. Linda Mattocks, the Vice President and agent, started a brief meeting to welcome all fifty-four who were attending. Mary Rauch, treasurer, gave a brief summary of this month’s charitable contributions and activities. Linda presented a check for $500 from Lana Limmer to the Ledbetter Fire Department. The funds from the country store had already been sent to the fire department. Mary then gave a brief explanation of charitable contributions and activities.

Kristi Bauer from CASA thanked everyone for all the contributions today, this past month, and the years past. She explained how CASA is the voice for children in foster care and how they see that all their needs are met. At present, there are 150 children in her care, 29 from Fayette County. Kristi had her daughter, Keelyn, her parents, Red and Pam Schoenst, and her nephew and niece, Weston and Kate Bauer, to help her carry out contributions. David Noak, board member from Rutersville, presented various interesting facts, including that now their annuities are paying 4%. He then presented membership pins: 50 years to Melissa Crenwelge-Nedbalek, Blaine Koehl, Janet Matthijetz, Dwight Nittsche, Robbie Stork, and Tina Wagner Morrow. Those receiving pins for 60 years were Doris Jean Eckermann, Delores Neutzler, David’s first cousin, Jan Perry, Harry Schellberg, Ruby Vierus, Pearlie Wagner, Genell Fay Weigelt and Nyle Woods. A meal of chicken fried chicken, twice baked potatoes with gravy, beans, slaw, cranberry salad, coffee or tea plus a table full of desserts was served. “Rob your Neighbor” was played and guessing games were won by Jeanette Schoenst and David Noak. The mystery gift had a tie between Lana Limmer and Virgie Hall. The next meeting will be Jan. 26. Dinner will be served, members may bring a dessert item.

Church News

St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Warrenton holds a monthly service at 8 a.m. for the intentions left on the altar. This month’s mass was held Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 8 a.m. View the bulletin online at stjohnfayetteville. com for more information.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church holds services with Pastor John David Nedbalek Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School is the first Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Ruth Circle is the first Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Sewing Circle is the second Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m.

The BLC annual meeting is scheduled for Jan. 15 with a Pot Luck to follow. The January Council meeting will follow. The Christmas program will be Sunday, Dec. 11. There are no scheduled mid-week Advent services. Christmas Eve service will be at 11 p.m., and at 9:30 a.m. on Christmas day.

Continuing with the Jesus and nature series, Bethlehem Lutheran Church had their monthly bible study on Thursday morning, Dec. 1. Pastor John David Nedbalek led with the fact that Jesus, a mammal, was born among mammals. We need to act and think in ways that help all creatures live in unity. Joys Baird, Sedalia Ullrich and Kathy Schatte offered bible verses relating to creatures from Jesus’s birth through Palm Sunday. Pearlie Wagner was the hostesses. Next bible study will be Jan. 5, with the series, The Ten Commandments. Everyone is welcomed to join in to be the best stewards, seeing God in all things and trying to understand our part.

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Shelby holds Worship service at 8 a.m., followed by fellowship, coffee, and Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. Game Day is held the first and third Wednesday of each month from 2-4 p.m. Bring a snack, board game, dominoes, etc. Quilting meets the third Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. Noisy Offering is the third Sunday of each month.

St. Cecilia’s Round Top Episcopal Church holds services with Father Bill Miller on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in the historic Haw Creek Chapel in Henkel Square. For more information please visit the website at www.StCecilias.org.

Round Top Christian Fellowship Church holds service at 10 a.m. For more information, please visit their website at www.roundtopchurch.org.

The City of Refuge Church on 237 in Round Top holds bible study on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. followed by church service at 11 a.m. For more information visit their Facebook page at facebook. com/cityofrefugeHC.

Birthdays

Happy birthday wishes go out to Brandon Muesse, Charlie Schramm - Dec. 16; Ryder Robinson, Lilla Blackburn, Dovie Morgan, Katie Stavinoha - 17; Avery Nelius - 19;Alice Laurendine, Elizabeth Bowers - 20; Kelsey Mayer, Lorie Woodward - 22 .

Have News?

Send any news or notices you wish to have announced to Kyla@roundtoprealestate.com.