The Times-Journal

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go.

Miniature lights twinkle and shine on homes in every neighborhood, holly wreaths with fat red bows hang on front doors, and through living room windows may be seen decorated evergreen trees sparkling and shimmering.

Now it’s time to get serious about gift shopping.

The annual Holiday Festival, sponsored by the City of Selma and The Old Depot Museum, opened Monday at 10 a.m. and will remain open daily until 5 p.m. through Dec. 17.

Walk by the Performing Arts Center, look inside, breathe in the fragrance of simmering spiced tea and wander through the treasures on display. Begin with the jewel-tone jams and jellies and continue on.

Be sure to take along a shopping bag and your gift list.

Holiday Festival this year has something for everyone on that list, something each person will love to receive. Here is a tiny list of these favorite things:

Virginia Lobue and Minnie Rose Abrams chose poinsettias at their first shopping and after taking them to their cars, went back to the Festival for other choices.

For parents with little girls and grandparents with small granddaughters, Teresa Casey and Judy Reed display some of Teresa’s exquisitely handmade dresses, perfect for Sunday school and birthday parties and photographs.

Audrey Quarles of Valley Grande has been making sequined bags and purses in sparkling holiday colors, just right to take to the many parties during this festive holiday season.

Joy Beers has returned with her tasteful and unique personal jewelry as well as miniature wind chimes, all kinds of earrings and a veritable treasure cave of gifts to delight anyone’s heart.

Davy Autrey is displaying his unusual and beautifully made birdhouses. Especially attractive are those designed as Gothic churches with pointed roofs and spires. His son Caden, two months, is an added attraction for all who visit the Autrey display.

His wife Jan and Natalie Johnson added tote bags, duffel bags, diaper bags to the display.

Lafawnda Watson, formerly of California, was recently featured on House and Garden TV. At Holiday Festival, she is offering an unusual and attractive display of ceramics, in unusual designs and colors.

Oh yes, there is a wide variety of decorated evergreen wreaths and door swathes, beautifully tied, fat red and gold and plaid bows and children’s books.

And these are from only a handful of the more than 40 vendors who have brought their wares to this annual event.

Oh yes, remember to pour a cup of spiced tea and check the baked goods and candies offered each day by different groups and individuals, who are among the best cooks in the region.

These include Barry Reed, Joyce Rylee of Rylee Catering, Faye Andrews, Beloit Community (Emma Obie),Avis Clecker, Sister Springs Baptist Church (Shebra Kidd), Orrville United Methodist (Virginia Burrill), Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority (Michelle Kiefer), Northside Baptist WMU and Lucille Killingsworth.

And while you are shopping, remember to take a break Saturday morning to stand on Broad Street and watch the city’s Christmas Parade, which always brings to mind this old verse:

“Here we stand in the cold and the sleet,

Blowing fingers and stamping feet,

Come from far away, you to greet,

You by the fire and we in the street

Bidding you joy in the morning!”