Bristow’s Christmas season kicked off in October this year as Bristow Social Services announced families could begin signing up for their annual Christmas program on October 1, but much of the community sprung to life with holiday excitement during November. Read on to review some of the many events in which Bristowans and visitors joyfully participated this Christmas season.
As noted, families began signing up for Bristow Social Services’ Christmas program in October and continued through November 15. The holiday program distributes donated food and gifts to families and children in need each year, serving an average of 350 children. Families received their goods before Christmas Eve.
Molly and Socks Christmas Tree Farm opened November 23. The farm sold gifts as well as both pre-cut and family chosen, freshly cut, live trees. Visitors were also treated to outdoor family friendly games and activities, including children’s train rides, cornhole, basketball, a large swing set, feeding goats, meeting and taking photos with Santa, making smores around a fire, fresh, homemade concessions, and much more. The farm closed for the season last week.
Thanksgiving night, November 28, the city kicked off Cowboy Christmas with the tree lighting at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Main Street. Families convened to usher in the season for the lighting of the tree as well as to meet Rose and Grace, two reindeer of the locally owned Reindeer Club of Oklahoma.
Sweet Dreams Carriage Rides provided rides, to the wonderment of both young and old, along Bristow streets on the nights of the tree lighting and parade.
The Christmas parade was held December 5, at 6:30 p.m. Main Street closed from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for the parade, local shopping, and holiday attractions at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Main Street, where vendor booths, food trucks, and the Reindeer Club were located.
Brett Fadely’s Bristow Route 66 Toy Museum remained open the night of the parade as well, offering children the opportunity to meet and get photos with Santa. Community children also dropped off their letters to Santa in a special mailbox located outside of the museum. Fadely and the museum were also featured on Tulsa’s Channel 2 News’ “Positively Oklahoma” segment with Julie Chin at 6 p.m. on December 20. Bristow Police Department sold BBQ sandwiches the night of the Christmas parade. They also sought monetary donations via Cash App and an open booth at 8th Avenue and Main Street. Their annual fundraising campaign supported their “Police with Presents” or “Shop with a Cop” program.
Cornerstone Church held its annual Touch of Christmas drive-thru event on December 7, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The line of cars stretched nearly 1.5 miles through town. The church prayed with and distributed food and gifts to more than 700 families, touching countless individuals with their love of Christ this holiday season.
First Baptist Church and Brad Butler partnered to present the “Living Christmas Tree” in 3 free performances for the public, beginning with their dress rehearsal on December 7, and culminating in 2 live concerts at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 8.
cross lighting, live nativity, and children’s story.
In a one-of-a-kind concert on December 12, Bristow Public Schools’ band and choir students performed music from “The Polar Express” with drama students also participating in the show. Local musicians performed during the concert as part of the annual “A Very Bristow Christmas Show” as well. The show began at 7 p.m. and ran just over an hour. Prior to the concert, the City of Bristow and Chamber of Commerce set up the non-ice, ice skating rink outside the Freeland Center for the community to skate—for free—in advance of the show. Skating began at 6 p.m.
On December 14, Bristow American Legion Post 126— and in conjunction with the Sons of the Legion and Legion Auxiliary—disseminated food baskets with a complete Christmas meal to 22 veterans’ families and gifts for children to 5 of those families.
Slick’s Faith Baptist Church held its annual Faith Country Christmas live nativity by way of mule drawn carriages on the evenings of December 14 and 15, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. An estimated 750 people attended the event.
The evening of December 15, members, including children, of Cornerstone Church and Shamrock Baptist Church caroled at the Rainbow Health Care Community and throughout the city of Bristow. Cornerstone Church members also caroled the following Sunday, December 22. Bristow’s Route 66 Cowboy Christmas Facebook page announced the Bristow Bucks winning tickets on December 15, and winners had until December 20, to claim their prizes.
Locally owned by Billy and Susan Ledbetter and Nick Ledbetter, the Reindeer Club of Oklahoma made 3 Bristow appearances this holiday season: at the tree lighting ceremony on November 28, during the Christmas parade on December 5, and at the Bristow Public/Montfort & Allie B. Jones Memorial Library on December 18.
C & J Kountry Fixin’s and CJ’s Bar offered a variety of holiday specials throughout the month of December, including karaoke, an ugly sweater contest, “A Christmas Show” musical extravaganza featuring local musicians, and a visit by Santa. They will host a New Year’s Eve Bash on December 31.