Don’t miss the O’FallonTheatreWorks’ (OTW) production of the comedy-drama, Steel Magnolias, on the stage at O’Fallon’s Municipal Centre (City Hall), 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon Missouri 63366. Performances will be held November 30 – December 2, and December 7-9. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Written by Robert Harling, the action takes place in a home beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done by Truvy, who dispenses down-home observations along with shampoos and permanents to her clients (“When it comes to pain and suffering, she’s right up there with Elizabeth Taylor;”): Ouiser, the town’s rich curmudgeon (“The only reason people are nice to me is I have more money than God;”); Miss Clairee (“If you don’t have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me;”) and M’Lynn, a social leader whose daughter, Shelby, the prettiest girl in town, is getting married. Steel Magnolias is laced with repartee delivered by women whose inner strength, deep bond for one another, and willingness to poke fun makes them marvelous company in good times and bad.

An all-new exhibit by photographer Paul Callaway is available for viewing, free, through January 4, 2013, in O’Fallon Cultural Arts Gallery at the Renaud Spirit Center (RSC), 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon, Missouri 63368. The color and black and white photos of people and places were taken with inexpensive 35mm and medium-format toy cameras.

“I’ve been shooting lo-fi imagery as a hobby since 2004, and thoroughly enjoy telling a story one exposed frame at a time with various plastic toy cameras,” he notes on his blog, www.toycameracrusader.blogspot.com. “Whether used for fun or art, people are fascinated when I show them the images I’m able to produce from such simple and unsophisticated cameras. For me, this proves that a person doesn’t need the latest digital marvel to take an interesting photograph; only a good eye, a subject, and a camera to capture it with.”

Get into the spirit of Christmas with a trip to awe-inspiring holiday destinations and great shopping opportunities, the Tree-Rific Holly-Day Tour.

On Tuesday, December 18, board the motor coach in Civic Park at 12:15 p.m. to see St. Louis decorated for the season. Dine on delicious Italian food at Zia’s on the Hill, then cross the river to Illinois to see the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows and their extensive Christmas Tree room, village and gift shop. Next, cruise through the amazing Way of Lights, followed by the light display at Tilles Park, and ending with a tour of O’Fallon’s Celebration of Lights in Fort Zumwalt Park. The motor coach will return to Civic Park by 9 p.m. Cost of the trip is $79 for residents and $88 for non-residents, and includes transportation, admissions, dinner and gratuities.

It’s time to plan a trip to the American West that will take your breath away! Come to the Renaud Spirit Center (RSC) at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4, for a free presentation on “Northern National Parks.” The RSC is located at 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon MO 63368.

The eight-day motor coach tour will be held June 21-28, and include Jackson, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, and Park City. Detailed itineraries will be available at the presentation and also at the front desk at the RSC.

Celebrate the season with friends old and new at a traditional sit-down meal of slow-roasted turkey with all the trimmings served to the tune of a light-hearted holiday show. Jingle Bell Lunch will be held from noon–2 p.m. on Monday, December 10, at the Renaud Spirit Center (RSC), 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon, Missouri 63368. The cost is $15 for O’Fallon residents and $18 for non-residents. The registration deadline is Wednesday, December 5.

To register:

Westhoff Park is already one of O'Fallon's best parks, and now it's gotten even better!

Kids can visit with Santa and enjoy holiday-themed activities and games, too, at three O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department programs. Parents and grandparents are invited to bring their cameras and video cameras to catch those priceless holiday moments. Advance registration is required – there’s no registration at the gate.

Candy Cane Hunt – Kids ages 2- 12 will have a blast searching for treats hidden around the Renaud Spirit Center,2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon MO 63368. The hunt begins promptly at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, so don’t be late! After all the candy canes are corralled, everyone will head inside to sip hot chocolate, visit with Santa, sing holiday songs, play games and enjoy activities for “good” children. The cost is $8 for O’Fallon residents and $10 for non-residents. Registration ends Monday, November 26.

Hundreds of O'Fallon families rang in the official start of the holiday season at O'Fallon's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony!

Treat your friends and loved ones to a tour through O’Fallon’s 21st Annual Celebration of Lights in Fort Zumwalt Park, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366. The annual holiday lights display opens for the season on at 6 p.m. Friday, November 23 (the day after Thanksgiving), and continues nightly through December 30, except for Christmas on December 25, when it will be closed.

“Visitors will find the woods, picnic areas and playgrounds magically transformed by millions of twinkling lights and holiday scenes into a winter wonderland offering surprises around every corner,” said Marsha Seymour, Manager of O’Fallon’s Tourism and Festivals Department.

The City of O’Fallon, Missouri, will observe the following schedule over the Thanksgiving holiday for these City facilities and services:

• O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall), 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366, will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 22-23.
• The Renaud Spirit Center (RSC) indoor recreation complex will be closed on Thanksgiving, but it will be open on Friday, November 23 with regular business hours of 5:15 a.m.-9 p.m. The RSC is located at 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon 63368. www.renaudspiritcenter.com
• Also on Friday, November 23, O’Fallon’s Celebration of Lights display in Fort Zumwalt Park will open for the season from 6-10 p.m. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/COL, or call 636-379-5614.
• O’Fallon’s residential trash and recycling collection will move forward one day, with Thursday’s collection moving to Friday, and Friday’s collection moving to Saturday. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ES.