Vine Grove gets in Christmas spirit

The smell of freshly baked cakes will overtake Vine Grove this week.

Jill Pickett

Gerry Catlett, left, and Shirley Coffey fluff the branches of one of the Coffey & Chism Funeral Home trees Monday before decorating it for the Vine Grove Christmas tree auction to be held Thursday at Vine Grove City Hall. "This is the hardest part," said Coffey, of the fluffing of branches. The money from the auction benefits the city's Christmas for the Kids program.

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Jill Pickett

Kristofor King tries to get all the lights working as his mother, Teresa King, adjusts ornaments on the Vine Grove Women's Club tree Monday evening at Vine Grove City Hall as they prepare it for the city's Christmas tree auction.

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The city is hosting its annual holiday town hall meeting 6 p.m. Thursday at Vine Grove City Hall as the city launches a rousing celebration of Christmas that culminate with Dickens of a Christmas this weekend.

But before Dickens returns, local bakers are putting their skills to work for a good cause, said Donna Broadway, Vine Grove events coordinator.

“They can find good food,” Broadway said of the meeting as a number of participants plan to bake their finest cakes, one for consumption at the meeting and another to be auctioned.

Broadway said the cakes are among the best she’s tasted and often are auctioned for as much as $500, which makes the hard work and hours spent in the kitchen a worthy endeavor. 

“It makes the ladies feel really good,” she said.

For those with less experience, their cakes may sell for less, but once a buyer purchases and tastes the cake, they are likely to bid more in the future, she said.

The event is not all about food, though, as Christmas trees will be decorated and donated for the auction as well as Christmas wreaths and other decorations, Broadway said.

Money raised from the auction will benefit the city’s Christmas for the Kids program, in which agencies such as the Vine Grove Police Department accompany kids to stores and purchase clothes and toys for them, Broadway said. The program is recognized and practiced throughout the county in different iterations during the month leading up to Christmas.

The town hall meeting also features a free chili supper that Broadway said has been very popular over the years and as entertainment, including music by local group Testify.

“They’re hard to get, but we (try) to lock them in early,” Broadway said of the group.

The program has grown into a holiday tradition, Broadway said.

The meeting serves as a kickoff to Vine Grove’s premier Christmas attraction, Dickens of a Christmas, which is Friday and Saturday. The event stands out in the county because of its use of period wear and atmosphere harkening back to the era of Charles Dickens. The weekend also  features a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, games, rides, music and food.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762 or mfinley@thenewsenterprise.com.