Christmas in the 417

With Christmas quickly approaching, this is the perfect time to get in the spirit with festive activities!

There are many places to visit in the Springfield area that are beautiful this holiday season, as well as plenty to do while staying at home. Several Fair Grove students, as well as teachers, shared their favorite holiday traditions. 

Stephanie Brown is one of Fair Grove’s art teachers, and is also a mom to two kids. She shared, “One of my favorite holiday activities is watching holiday movies and making hot cocoa bombs on Christmas eve. My favorite Christmas movies are Home Alone 1 and 2, or Christmas Vacation. Elf is probably a runner-up.”

The holidays are always a great opportunity to share time with family. “I love to make gingerbread houses every year with my little brother,” described Hailley Merillat, a sophomore at Fair Grove. Preston Kothenbeutel (12) said, “I’ve always enjoyed sledding. Me and my siblings have done it every year together; even when we were in New Mexico we went sledding down sand dunes. We always have so much fun.” He said they also always watch Christmas movies, and his favorite is probably The Grinch.

Going to see Christmas lights is always a popular pastime during this season and there are so many local options to choose from. Several students said their favorite place is the Lights of Joy attraction in Branson. This is a drive-thru light show with more than 300 displays, and tickets are $20-$30 depending on the day of the week.

A cheaper drive-thru option, and one closer to home for those in Fair Grove, is Candy Cane Lane at Rutledge-Wilson Farm Park. The farm is decked out in light displays throughout December. Drive-thru tours are offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $5 per vehicle.

If you are looking for a light attraction to walk through as opposed to driving, Jordan Valley Park in Springfield offers their Festival of Lights. This light display is free to walk through and is a great option to bring the whole family to.

One last stop is Park Central Square in downtown Springfield. It features a Christmas tree and light displays throughout the square that would make perfect backgrounds for your December Instagram posts. Be sure to check out these festive stops around Springfield before the season ends!