Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Call Newspapers!

We wish you and yours a wonderful Christmas season. Here’s to a wonderful holiday season and an even better 2018.

Check out our Call Newspapers 2017 Holiday Guide, with everything you can see and do this holiday season in south county. If you want to roller-skate with Santa, carousel with Santa or just eat breakfast with Santa, we’ve got everything you need to know.

This list will be updated with any new holiday events. To add your events to the list, email news3@callnewspapers.com.

First, we’ll highlight some unique events happening this weekend.

Christmas in Crestwood Celebration: Dec. 2, noon to 2 p.m. Kick off Crestwood’s annual Christmas celebration by meeting Santa at City Hall, 1 Detjen Drive. Santa will make his grand entrance at noon on a fire engine and open the doors to City Hall. The first 175 children will receive a fun gift bag full of goodies from local businesses. Families are invited to join in the spirit of the season by bringing nonperishable food items to support the Prince of Peace Food Pantry, and/or bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for School Kids. Families may bring their own camera or they may purchase a photo package courtesy of Spectrum Eyeglass Repair and Crestwood Walgreens. All proceeds from the photo packages benefit Toys for School Kids.

Officers from the Crestwood Police Department will be on hand, and there will be Crestwood Firehouse tours, a craft table, furry friends to pet or adopt from the Crestwood Animal Shelter, enter a free raffle for a children’s book gift basket from Pauline Books and Media, stop by the Sappington House table for a coupon for a free original coloring book, and check out the information table for more fun Crestwood holiday events. The decorations will be created by Lindbergh Schools elementary school students, along with holiday music and cookies, make for a fun and festive afternoon. For more information, click here.

After hearing all the children’s wish lists, Santa will leave City Hall in a Willy’s Jeepster convertible to make his way to the second annual Christmas in Crestwood Car Show and Fireworks Display, 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 2, sponsored and hosted by Fairway Automotive, 8750 Watson Road. Pole Position Raceway, 8800 Watson Road, has offered their parking lot for visitors to use. Fairway will be chauffeuring guests in golf carts to the event, which will be filled with fun and exciting activities, along with lots of eye candy for those who love cars. Besides cars, motorcycles will be on display and food and drink specials will be available. At 6 p.m., join the parade along Watson Road to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, 1420 S. Sappington Road directly across the street from City Hall, for a holiday fireworks display by Brilliant Skies Fireworks at 7 p.m.

Crestwood Holiday Tree Decorating Contest, Dec. 1 to Dec. 25.

Celebrate the holidays with this third annual event by visiting some of the 104 businesses who are participating. Rate a business’s tree during your visit and be entered into a weekly drawing for a gift basket chock-full of goodies from Crestwood merchants. Last year’s gift baskets were valued at over $600 each. By rating the holiday trees, you are helping to choose which businesses will win the “People’s Choice” award. To be entered into the $2,500 Grand Prize Gift Basket drawing you must use a special Grand Prize form, visit the tree at the Crestwood Community Center in Whitecliff Park and the Crestwood Animal Shelter tree along with the trees at home-based businesses.

Sappington House fifth annual Crestwood Honor Glow, 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3.

The fifth annual Honor Glow celebration, honoring veterans and benefiting local military families, is being held on Sunday, Dec. 3, along Grant’s Trail in Crestwood. The event will run from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature hundreds of glowing luminaries along 1.5 miles of Grant’s Trail and a larger celebration at the Sappington House at 1015 S. Sappington Rd., 63126. Contact www.honorglow.org. Donate $10 to honor your service person with a luminary or $25 for a special lighted balloon by Friday, Dec. 1.

House tours: 

Dec. 3: The Lindbergh High School Parent Group will hold its 42nd annual Holiday House Tour & Shopping Boutique. For more information, click here.

Meet Santa:

Santa will be making many stops throughout south county this year. He’s a busy guy!

Dec. 1

Pancakes with Santa at Forder Elementary, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Come join us for a family fun night featuring a delicious pancake dinner, pictures with Santa and a craft! $6 per adult, $3 per child. Please bring your own camera for Santa photos.

Dec. 2

Breakfast with Santa, Rogers Middle School, 7550 Mackenzie Road, Affton, 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Santa visit 9:30 to 10:30.

$5 per meal. Choose between two sausage McGriddles and/or a Sausage Biscuit breakfast.

Visit the Holiday Shoppe sponsored by Meisner Primary School. Fun games and crafts for the children!

Christmas in Crestwood (see above).

Santa and Live Reindeer at Museum of Transportation, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Museum of Transportation, 3015 Barrett Station Road, Kirkwood.

Bring your camera for free photos. Museum admission required.

Santa House, Oakland House, 7801 Genesta St., Affton, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Also Dec. 3, 9 and 10, same times.

Visit Santa at the 40th annual Santa House in a Victorian parlor. Enjoy a story and puppet show, visit with Santa, and get a home baked cookie from Mrs. Claus. Bring your camera. Craft items available for purchase. For information call Charlie Brown (314) 353-2636. Cost is $4 per person cash or check.

Dec. 3

Santa is Coming to Affton! 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Santa Claus rides to the Affton White-Rodgers Community Center, 9801 Mackenzie Road, on a fire truck from the Affton Fire Protection District. Entertainment, refreshments and Santa arrives on a fire truck! Bring your camera for pictures with Santa. Free.

Dec. 5

Pancakes with Santa at Rogers Elementary, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Rogers Elementary gym/cafeteria

The Rogers Elementary PTO is sponsoring this second annual PJs and Pancakes event again this year. The price for up to a family of four is $25, which includes a 5×7 photo and Chris’ pancakes. Each additional person and photo are $5 more. For the registration form, click here: https://www.peachjar.com/index.php?region_id=93212&a=2&b=409269

Dec. 7

Santa Shoppe and Pictures with Santa at Point Elementary, 5 to 9 p.m.

To receive multiple pictures on a disk, the cost is $15. Advance registration is required by emailing mcraens@yahoo.com.

Proceeds go to the Point PTO.

Dec. 8

Breakfast with Santa, Southview Assisted Living & Memory Care, 9916 Reavis Road, Affton, 7 to 10 a.m.

Enjoy a family breakfast with Santa and live Christmas tunes.

Dec. 9

Holiday Food Drive & Santa Saturday, Mehlville Fire Protection District, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MFPD Engine House No. 5, 11020 Mueller Road, Green Park. Meet Santa! See fire trucks! Meet firefighters! A holiday food drive will be sponsored by the Mehlville Fire Protection District. Canned foods and donations will be accepted through Dec. 20 for Feed My People to help those in need during the holiday season. On Saturday, Dec. 9, children can meet and have their photograph taken with Santa. Firefighters and paramedics also will be available for photos and will teach children about fire safety. Educational material will be distributed. Parents also may bring their own camera to take additional pictures of children. For more information, call (314) 894-0420.

Green Park 14th annual children’s holiday party with Santa, 1 to 3 p.m., hosted by the city of Green Park, Green Park City Hall, 11100 Mueller Road, Suite 5 (community room).

Green Park residents’ children and grandchildren 12 years of age or younger are invited to attend. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Santa will be dropping by to chat with the boys and girls. Bring your camera to take pictures of your child on Santa’s lap. Make your reservations by contacting City Hall at (314) 894-7336.

Santa and Live Reindeer at Museum of Transportation, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Museum of Transportation, 3015 Barrett Station Road, Kirkwood.

Bring your camera for free photos. Museum admission required.

Santa Is Coming to Crestwood! Spectrum Eyeglass Pictures with Santa, 5 to 7 p.m.

Also Dec. 10, 16 and 17, same times

Bring the whole family to visit and have your photos taken with Santa.

Come take your picture with Santa at Spectrum Eyeglass Repair in Crestwood Dec. 10, and again on Dec. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Dec. 18 from noon to 2 p.m. Picture packages are available for $19.95 and all proceeds will go to “Toys for School Kids.” Donated toys are welcome as well. While you’re there, you can shop their unique selection of handmade jewelry and custom-made glass frames.

Dec. 16

Sunset Hills Breakfast With Santa, 9  to 11 a.m.

Santa Claus will host a breakfast at the Sunset Hills Community Center, 3939 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Breakfast will be provided by Chick-fil-A. After breakfast you will have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa. The cost is $10 per person. Call the Community Center at (314) 842-7265 to make reservations. All participants must register before Dec. 13.

Dec. 17

Knights of Columbus All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast with Santa, 7 to 11 a.m., St. Catherine Laboure School Cafeteria. Santa and his elves will have goodies for all the children and mom and dad can take a chance on the Cash for Christmas raffle. Tickets cost $5 each or 5 for $20. The drawing will be held at the Breakfast with Santa gathering.

Lighting contests

To find the best Christmas light displays in St. Louis, visit http://www.holidaylighthopping.com/. The website is created by Affton resident Laura Thake and her nephew Mitch Miller and lists all the best places to see Christmas lights around south county and the region.

The annual Holiday Decorating Contest for all of south county will soon be underway, co-sponsored by Call Newspapers, Coldwell Banker Gundaker Realtors-Telegraph and Handyman Hardware. Entrants always come from throughout south county and are awarded based on Most Attractive and Most Creative displays, two winners in each category. Winners will be featured in the Call. Call (314) 487-0050 by Dec. 4 to enter.

Sunset Hills annual Holiday Lighting Contest.

Registration closes Dec. 10 for Sunset Hills’ annual contest, judged by the Parks and Recreation Board. Light up the Holiday Season by decorating your house for the Sunset Hills annual holiday lighting contest. Call the Community Center at (314)842-7265 to register your home or business today.

Craft fairs:

Dec. 2

Oakville Band Arts & Craft Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oakville High School, 5557 Milburn Road. Two-day event continuing Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Almost 250 spaces of unique and creative crafters. Free admission, free parking, strollers allowed. If you like craft shows, you will love this one.

Dec. 3

Oakville Band Arts & Craft Show, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oakville High School, 5557 Milburn Road. Two-day event continuing Dec. 4. Almost 250 spaces of unique and creative crafters. Free admission, free parking, strollers allowed. If you like craft shows, you will love this one.