County Mayor Eugene Ray looks on as Bubba Yoes and Sam Smith from Shelbyville Recreation Center hang the lights on the new tree at the county courthouse. The tree will be used for a Christmas lighting ceremony on Saturday in conjunction with the Bicentennial "Celebration of Christmas Past" from 3-5 p.m. that day. The tree was donated by Bill Edwards of Edwards Exteriors in memory of his parents G.W. Edwards, who died in 1971, and Patty Edwards, who died in 2007. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

Plans are being finalized for Bedford County Bicentennial Organizing Committee's "Celebration of Christmas Past," Dec. 1 on and around the Shelbyville square.

The event is scheulded to run from 3-5 p.m.

Activities will include:

* The lighting of the official courthouse Christmas tree, at about 4:45 p.m.

* Free chili and hot cocoa

* Photos with Santa. You may take your child's photo yourself or have one taken by an on-site photographer.

* Horse and buggy rides

* Victorian costumes

* Christmas caroling

* Face painting

* A Christmas cookie contest. Entries may be brought to the east side of the square between 2 and 3 p.m.; there is no entry fee, but each entrant must submit one dozen cookies. Call Jenny Hunt at 607-6784 for more information.

* Merchant open houses, with holiday refreshments, door prizes and sales

* The "Festival of Trees" at the Fly Arts Center on South Main Street, just off the square

In addition, later that night the dinner theatre productin of "Exit the Body" will be presented at The Fly. Call 703-7613 for reservations.

For more information about "Celebration of Christmas Past," call Dawn Holley at 703-2292 or Johnny Reed at 684-5719.