Christmas events continue in Ozark County this week


Rocky Top Campground, off Highway 160 at the top of the Tecumseh curves, welcomes area residents and visitors to its drive-through Christmas lights display. Owners Joe and Diane Easterday say the drive-through is open to everyone and will continue nightly from dark until about 10 p.m. through the New Year’s. Photo submitted.

Christmas events are continuing this week throughout the area. 

The Ozark County Community Choir, which includes members from five area churches, will present this year’s Christmas cantata, “Glory in the Highest,” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Clear Springs General Baptist Church at PP Highway and County Road 318 near Dawt, and again at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at Gainesville First Baptist Church between Second and Third streets in Gainesville. Everyone is invited to both performances; refreshments will be served after the music. The community choir is directed by Lou Arta Corbin.

Gainesville First Baptist Church, in addition to hosting the community choir on Dec. 17, also welcomes area residents and visitors to “Back to the Manager,” performed by the Kids Choir at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. The play tells the story of some kids who go back in time to the birth of Christ and witness the events as they unfolded. On Dec. 24, the church will have its regular Sunday morning service at 10:45 a.m. and a special Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6 p.m.  

The Children’s Ballet of the Ozarks will present The Nutcracker at the West Plains Civic Center at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16, and also at 2 p.m. Dec. 16. For ticket information, visit childrensballetoftheozarks.com.

The Ozark County Toy Drive will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at the old Senior Citizens Center on Third Street in Gainesville. Chairperson Nancy Walker says overnight lining up outside the building is not allowed, at the property owner’s request. The First Baptist Church, across the street from the old Senior Citizens Center, will open at 6 a.m. to serve coffee and hot chocolate and provide bathroom access for participating parents. At 7 a.m., numbers will be given out, and at 9 a.m. the doors will open and parents will be admitted by number, 10 at a time, to choose gifts for their children. 

The toy drive welcomes any Ozark County parents and guardians whose budgets don’t have extra cash for their children’s Christmas gifts. The only requirement is that each participant must show proof of Ozark County residency. A driver’s license will do. 

Cash donations to the toy drive are always needed, says Nancy. Make checks payable to the Ozark County Toy Drive and mail to her at 378 Harlin Drive, Gainesville, MO 65655.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423