Christmas in Midway: Tree, carols, show, Santa, photographers, authors, tours, cookies, punch!

The Christmas season officially begins in Midway tomorrow night, with lighting of the community tree at 6:30, followed by singing of carols and a 7:30 show at the Thoroughbred Theater with Clinton's Country Christmas. "Last year was a special Christmas musical treat and this year won't be different," the theater's John McDaniel promises in his Midway column in today's edition of The Woodford Sun. Shops and restaurants will stay open later on Friday and Saturday, with some offering free cookies and punch. (2009 photo by McDaniel)

Santa Claus is scheduled to arrive via train Saturday at 11 a.m., at the crosswalk in front of the theater, toss out candy as he rides a horse-drawn carriage around town, and visit with children from 11:30 to 2:30. Weather permitting, there will be a petting zoo and carriage rides until 3 p.m. The theater will have a model train exhibit, and the Midway Branch Library will host photographer Dave Toczko and his new book about the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. From 1 to 4 p.m. the Historic Midway Museum Store will host landscape photographer James Archambeault and former Lexington Herald-Leader horse racing writer Maryjean Wall, author of the new book How Kentucky Became Southern. Horses had a lot to do with it, she writes.

The Midway Holiday Home Tour will visit six homes from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at a cost of $20 per ticket, with proceeds going to the theater. Tickets are limited, and on sale at May & Co., as well as online at http://www.thoroughbredtheater.com/ and at Marketplace on Main in Versailles. Homes on the tour are at 109 E. Stephens St., 217 W. Stephens St., 219 S. Turner St., 321 S. Turner St., 332 S. Turner St. and the Rouse House at 337 S. Winter St.