By Ida Brown

The unseasonal warm weather may be a distraction for some, however organizers of Merry Meridian 2009 are already in the Christmas spirit.

"This is quite exciting, there's been a tremendous amount of coordination this year between all the various groups and churches who are doing events this year," said Ken Watts, chairman of East Mississippi's largest holiday celebration, at Tuesday's kickoff.

"We've got music, food, shopping – it's just a great season and a time to celebrate," Watts said.

"And this year I think people are even more excited than ever. We've had a hard year – a lot of people have come off a difficult two years, in their businesses and personal lives. I think we're all looking forward to a holiday season to celebrate for the right reasons."

Presented by the Meridian Downtown Association, Merry Meridian spans several weeks. "Joy to the World" is the theme for this year, which features 17 scheduled events, beginning the first week of November and continuing through the second week of December.

Merry Meridian begins with family fun and artistic talents as the Episcopal Church of the Mediator sponsors a Gingerbread House Contest. The entries will be displayed at Meridian Museum of Art from Nov. 3-Dec 6. Entries will be judged for excellence in construction and creativity. Winning works will be displayed in the front window of the MSU Riley Center the first week of December.

A "People's Choice Award" will also be announced, based on votes from viewers at the museum. Registration for the contest is ongoing through October. Entry forms are available at the Church of the Mediator, Meridian/Lauderdale County Public Library and the Meridian Museum of Art. Viewers can also join in on the fun by participating in a silent auction of the entries from the Web site, which is located at www.mediatormeridian.com. Funds raised will support the Church of the Mediator's community outreach and children's programs. To view contest details or download entry forms, go to www.mediatormeridian.com

For more information, call Sarah Mutziger at (601) 485-7778.

Merrehope’s 41st Annual Trees of Christmas will open Nov. 19 with a Champagne and Chocolate Gala announcing the latest developments at The Meridian Restoration Foundation. The popular holiday event will unveil trees and exhibits of “A Global Christmas” featuring Christmas music, delicious delicacies and the perfect opportunity to view the architecture of antebellum Merrehope and the Victorian F.W. Williams home all decked out in their finest holiday style.

For more than 41 years, local residents and out-of-town visitors alike have looked forward with anticipation to the beginning of “the holiday season” at the annual candlelight tour. This year a new menu and special recognitions will welcome faithful attendees and attract newcomers to the holiday happening. The event will be held from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. For more information go to www.merrehope.com or call (601) 483-8439.

Trees of Christmas Tours will open Nov. 20 and continue through Jan. 2, 2010. Tours of both houses are $10 per person with special rates for children and senior citizens. Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Special arrangements may be made for private luncheons, dinners, parties and other events.

Merrehope and the F.W. Williams home are located at 905 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Drive.

Dumont Plaza will come alive with the sights and sounds of the holidays on Dec. 1, at 5 p.m. as the city of Meridian officially kicks off the holiday season at the Tree Lighting Ceremony. For more information, call Connie Royal at (601) 485-1944 or go to www.meridianms.org

On Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., Meridian Community College, under the direction of Tammy Miles and Twyla Hursts, will present an evening of choral literature from various composers, time periods and cultures for the MCC Chorus Fall Semester Concert. Traditional Christmas repertoire will be included. In addition to the concert choir, MCC vocal ensemble, Dimensions, will entertain the audience with pop, rock and R&B selections.

For more information about MCC Chorus Fall Semester Concert at McCain Hall on the MCC campus, call 601-484-8628 or go to www.mcc.cc.ms.us

The Jimmie Rodgers Foundation will present Ernie Haase & Signature Sound in concert Dec. 3 at the Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts. Richard Ferguson, concert producer for the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation, describes the performance as “ .... The gospel event of the year here in Mississippi."

This concert will be the opening concert for “EHSS SOLO” – The Christmas Tour. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, call (601) 693-5353 or go to www.itickets.com.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Highland Baptist Church's Singing Christmas Tree is set for Dec. 3-6, nightly at 7 p.m., plus 4 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Over the history of the tree, more than 400 different singers have sung and all who could be located were invited back to sing this year. Six have chosen to return from as far away as Texas, Arkansas and Indiana. The 90-voice choir and 25-piece orchestra will share their favorite songs from the tree's 220-song history. The No. 1 and title of this year's program is, "I Have Seen the Light."

For free tickets or more information about the Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree call (601) 482-0191 or go to www.highlandbaptist.net

The MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts will present Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Fleck has been nominated in more diverse categories than any other artist in Grammy history. Performing with the Flecktones, Fleck and the band fuse bluegrass, jazz and funk sounds to create their critically acclaimed and wildly poplar sound.

The concert will include sounds from their Grammy-winning album Jingle All The Way, including holiday classics heard like never before and funk-filled versions of songs from Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas." For more information, call (601) 696-2200 or go to www.msurileycenter.com

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson is a hilarious Christmas tale. A couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdman collide with the Christmas Story head on.

"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" begins at the Meridian Little Theatre on Dec. 3 through 5 at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 6. For more information about the play, call (601) 482-6371 or go to www.meridianlittletheatre.com

On Dec. 4, the Sucarnochee Revue will present “Teen Artists Night” at the Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts. New and young talent from throughout the East Mississippi and West Alabama area will be showcased. The show will begin at 7 p.m. with the doors to open at 6 p.m. For more information about the Sucarnochee Review, call (601) 693-5353.

The Meridian Athletic Association along with BankPlus will host the Jingle Bell 5k Run, 5k Walk and 1-mile fun run for kids. This event will take place on Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. at BankPlus on 22nd Avenue in downtown Meridian. Long sleeve T-shirts to all registrants and awards will be given out in each age group.

For applications and more information, visit www.meridianathletic.com. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

More than 100 holiday vendors will showcase their wares at the Trustmark Merry Meridian Market. Highlighting this year’s hottest gifts – including specialty shops, foods and crafts – the market begins at 10 a.m. and continues to 4 p.m. From 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., a Children’s Holiday Art Workshop will take place at Meridian Museum of Art.

The day's festivities will continue at 5 p.m. with the Holiday Parade. The "Joy to the World" theme will be carried out with more than 150 entries, including lighted floats, marching bands and kids groups.

"It's the largest parade in the state for the holiday season," Watts said.

For more information about Merry Meridian Market, go to www.meridiandowntown/merrymeridianmarket.com or the Christmas parade to www.meridiandowntown/christmasparade.com or call (601) 693-7480. For more information about the Art Blizzard Workshop call (601) 693-1501.

After the parade, Meridian Symphony's Peppermint Pops concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the MSU Riley Center. The festive concert of holiday favorites will feature performances by the MSO Chorus and Cambiata Singers Children's Choir. The orchestra will perform familiar classics and favorites, such as "Go Tell It On the Mountain" and "Twas the Night Before Christmas." For more information about Peppermint Pops, call (601) 693-2224 or go to www.meridiansymphonyorchestra.com

Highlighting Sunday in Merry Meridian will be the Merry Merry Holiday Brunch at Merrehope, which will feature a brunch of new and old holiday favorites including wine and champagne in the elegantly decorated 20-room mansion.

Reservations must be made early. The first seating will be at 10:30 a.m. and the second seating will be at 12:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required and reservations may be made for individual seats or tables for parties of four, six or eight by calling (601) 483-8439. For more information, go to merrehope.com

On Dec. 11, a Christmas concert featuring Laurie Gale Stephenson and Steve Amerson will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts. The duo will be accompanied by members of the Meridian Symphony Chorus. Tickets will be available at the Temple Box Office or call (601) 693-5353 for further information.

The grand finale of Merry Meridian 2009 will be the Meridian Museum of Art, Art Gala on Dec.12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The gala is a special event that combines the reception for the annual Museum Members Show with a program that remembers and honors the people who have helped to build and support the museum over its 39-year existence. For more information about the gala, call (601) 693-1501 or go to meridianmuseum.org.



Merry Meridian Schedule:



Nov. 3-Dec. 6

• The Church of the Mediator Gingerbread House Contest and Silent Auction, Wednesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Meridian Museum of Art. Groups by appointment.



Nov. 19

• Merrehope's Champaign and Chocolate Gala, 7 p.m.



Nov. 20-Jan. 2

• Merrehope’s Trees of Christmas, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.



Dec. 1

• The City of Meridian Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5 p.m., Dumont Plaza

• MCC Chorus Fall Semester Concert, 7 p.m., McCain Theatre



Dec. 3

• Ernie Haase & Signature Sound: The Christmas Tour, 7 p.m., Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts

• Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree, 7 p.m.

• Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: Holiday Tour, 7:30 p.m., MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts

• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," 8 p.m., Meridian Little Theatre



Dec. 4

• Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree, 7 p.m.

• The Sucarnochee Review, 7 p.m., Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts

• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," 8 p.m., Meridian Little Theatre



Dec. 5

• Jingle Bell Run, 8 a.m., Dumont Plaza (kickoff)

• Merry Meridian Market, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dumont Plaza

• Children's Holiday Art Workshop, 10 a.m., Meridian Museum of Art

• Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree, 4 p.m.

• Christmas Parade, 5 p.m., Downtown Meridian

• Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree, 7 p.m.

• Meridian Symphony Orchestra's Peppermint Pops, 7:30 p.m., MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts

• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," 8 p.m., Meridian Little Theatre



Dec. 6

• Merry Merry Holiday Brunch, 10:30 a.m., Merrehope

• Merry Merry Holiday Brunch, 12:30 a.m., Merrehope

• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," 2 p.m., Meridian Little Theatre

• Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree, 4 p.m.

• Highland Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree, 7 p.m.



Dec. 11

• Steve Amerson & Laurie Stephenson Christmas Concert with the Meridian Symphony Chorus, 7:30 p.m., Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts



Dec. 12

• Art Gala, 6:30 p.m., Meridian Museum of Art