Vote For Your Favorite Christmas Decor, Help Earn Money For Schools

We're holding a contest for the best dressed homes in Caledonia and the winner will receive some cold hard cash for themselves and $100,000 for Racine Unified Schools. So, vote early and vote often.

A little friendly competition never hurts, especially when there’s $100,000 on the line! So if you think your holiday decorations are the best in town, upload a picture of your house and enter our Deck the House Contest. And don’t worry about all those lights racking up the utility bill because if you’re voted a finalist Patch will give you up to $500 to cover the expense. We know some of you out there may have decorations up that aren’t as extravagant as these.  That’s OK! We’d still love to have a photo of your house in the gallery so we can show how Caledonia has awesome holiday spirit. Have fun and happy holidays!

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A Million Lights to Behold

The Isaacson family is on a mission to wow families with their million-plus light show.

Editor's note: We ran this story in December 2010, but updated it with current information. The Isaacson family's Christmas light project at Jellystone Park, 8425 State Road 38, started small last year, but grew at an exponential rate this year after numerous trips to hardware stores. What did it take to make the Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort? Videographer Aj Randall gets a behind-the-scenes look at the festive display. The light show is being held from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (except Christmas day). The cost for seeing the light show this year is $15 per carload up to 8 people and $22 for larger vehicles and mini buses.

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Jason Alley

4:52 pm on Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Awesome video. I wished I lived nearby to see this display. It looks fantastic!   more ›

Weekend Ahead: Holiday Events and More

What could be more fun than dinner with Santa, holiday shopping, a charity run and a chance to help the homeless?

Don’t stay home and twiddle your thumbs this weekend. The weather is not going to be frightful and a fire won’t be necessary. There's lots to do in the area that will warm your heart, inside and out, in the spirit of the season.  Dinner with Santa  The Sturtevant Fireworks mostaccioli dinner is from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Sturtevant Village Hall. Good food, great fun, basket raffle and the jolliest of elves to boot! Come out and support the fireworks. Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis® Put on your jingle bells and run/walk for arthritis research. The weather's going to be great for this outdoor race through Renaissance Park. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Wine Tasting and Holiday Specials Enjoy some fine wine and shop for the holidays …

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Holiday Spending: How Creative Do You Get?

We've all got a budget these days. But, how much do you spend on your children's Christmas presents?

Growing up on a farm in Ohio, I remember Christmases that seemed more organic, and traditional than what we have now. In college, not having a lot of money, I gave my parents hand-written poems on parchment paper. I made my friends little baskets filled with movie passes and candy. And once, I gave my very used Charlotte's Webb book to my teacher because I wanted other kids to read it. When I was younger, my grandmother would knit sweaters for us and we'd make Slovakian sweet breads. I helped my mom make hard tack candy for my classmates. And one year we went to a neighboring farm and made our own popcorn balls.   So, I did a little research and found this really interesting movement called Buy Nothing Christmas, which includes a whole …

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RelyLocal Small Business Holiday Shuttle

Have Fun, Save Money, Help Racine - Get involved! Connect with other “loyal locals”, more info on our website and see our included photo flyer!

Free Thanksgiving Meal Offered, But Reservations Required

Looking for a great Thanksgiving meal that won't cost you a dime? Dan Johnson and Ray Stibeck, two area businessmen, have again partnered up to feed the Racine community.

KZ Heating and Route 20 Outhouse, will be hosting the 3rd Annual FREE Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving Day. The meal will consist of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, stuffing, cranberries, rolls, butter and desserts. In 2010 the group fed 1,000 people. In 2011 they fed 1,300 people. This year the goal is to feed 2,000 people. The feast is open to all. But they do require that you make a reservation either online at www.danandrays.com or by calling the hot line at (262) 221-0466. They are a not-for-profit company called Dan and Ray Rendering Thanks. If you know anyone who would appreciate a nice meal such as an elderly person or couple, someone down on their luck or someone with no family in town, please let them know…

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Old-World Twists For New Turkey Tastes This Thanksgiving

Try out some of these tips for Thanksgiving turkey and you just might be the subject of discussion when it's time for others to express their gratitude.

Holiday Train Returns to Sturtevant

Friends and neighbors are invited to help support the Racine County Food Bank while they enjoy Santa, live music and the amazing feeling of community returns when the Holiday Train pulls back into Sturtevant on Dec. 8.

Holiday Train Returning to Sturtevant

Once again, the brightly "wrapped" train will stop in Sturtevant to help raise money for the Racine County Food Bank.

The Holiday Train from CP Rail will once again stop in Sturtevant, according to an announcement from Village President Steve Jansen. Started in 1999, the train travels across several states and Canada to help raise money, food and awareness of local food banks. The train stopped in Sturtevant every year for about 10 years before detouring to Milwaukee instead in 2011. While a schedule is not yet available on the CP Rail website, Jansen said in an email that he spoke with a CP Rail representative who confirmed the train will visit Sturtevant in 2012. "Many of us that have been involved with this effort in the past know that is a great community event, not just for Sturtevant, but for the region," he wrote. Patch spoke with Christine Short, …

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