Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee is now looking towards the final two events of the county's year-long celebration -- a "Celebration of Christmas Past" Dec. 1 on the courthouse square, and the closing celebration two days later at the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds.

In the meantime, the Bicentennial hopes to place an entry in the Nov. 10 Veterans' Day parade and will sell Bicentennial memorabilia during the Celebration Pet Day later this month.

The Celebration of Christmas Past will include an appearance by Santa Claus, carolers (possibly in period dress), a Christmas carol sing-along, merchant open houses and the lighting of an official Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn. The Festival of Trees will also be underway at the nearby Fly Arts Center.

The committee discussed various options for decorating the tree. It's possible that local school classrooms will be asked to create ornaments and that the public will be invited to donate ornaments for the tree.

Plans are still being finalized for the closing celebration on Dec. 3. Originally, this was going to be a ticket-funded reception, but there's a possibility it may be opened up free of charge.

Sales of Bicentennial coins, medallions, key rings and T-shirts, as well as the official Bicentennial history book prepared by Tim and Helen Marsh, have been strong.

The Veterans' Day parade will be Nov. 10 and will terminate at H.V. Griffin Park, where the fireworks display, postponed from July 4 due to weather, has been rescheduled. There was an official Bicentennial float created for last year's Christmas parade, in the shape of a birthday cake, and organizers had hoped to use it at various events throughout the year. But the float was damaged beyond repair while in storage. So the Bicentennial entry in the Veterans' Day parade may be a truck carrying the Bicentennial flag unless a new float can be constructed.

Shelbyville & Bedford County Humane Association also invited the Bicentennial committee to set up a merchandise table at its annual "Celebration Pet Day" Sept. 29 at Bedford County Agriculture and Education Center. The event features a wide variety of family activities and pet-related programs.

Dixie Parker chairs the Bicentennial committee, while Dawn Holley and Johnny Reed are co-chairs of the activity subcommittee. Helen Garner is the treasurer and Geneva Smith is secretary.