Thanks to a gift from the Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund and programming at the new Clear Lake Arts Center, there will be several substantial features added to Clear Lake’s Main Street holiday event, “Christmas by the Lake,” scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1.
    ‘Santa’s Workshop Festival’ will take place indoors at the former Gwen’s Hallmark Gift Shop (The Barnyard) on 415 Main Avenue from 1-3 p.m., where children will be entertained by a wide variety of performers and activities at no cost.  
    “It’s play time for Santa’s elves and they are inviting the area’s kids to join them in fun and merriment,” explains organizer Gregory Schmidt.  This will involve professional festival performers and touring acts with magicians, jugglers, a ventriloquist, a balloon-making clown, King Oberon’s Faerie Court, the Peter Pan Pirates, Father Christmas story-teller, sing-alongs, minstrels, a pinata filled with money and candy, arts and crafts stations, and cookie decorating -- thanks to a generous donation from Cookies, Etc. (parental supervision suggested).
    The traditional Dickens/Victorian character stroll from 2-5 p.m. will see a new gathering of professional costumed actors from the Midwest’s Renaissance festival circuit.
    At the end of the day from 6-8 p.m. a “Fireworks Finale Party” will take place at the new Clear Lake Arts Center.  This “cozy and entertaining” evening of food and fun is being offered right after the lakeside fireworks show.  It starts off with a stew dinner, libations and kids’ snacks. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children, which covers the food service.  While youngsters can be kept busy in the workshop rooms with arts and crafts projects, the adults will be treated to a sit-down Olde English variety show. This will feature a comedy-magician, comedy jugglers, songs by the Pinafore Pirates and bits of traditional theater with the Tavern Wenches of Canterbury and others.
    For more details on the “Santa’s Workshop Festival,” call 641-357-5177 or e-mail greg@festint.com [1]. For more details on the “Fireworks Finale Party,” call the Clear Lake Arts Center at 641-357-1998.