The Dubois County Museum at 2704 N. Newton Street (US 231) in Jasper, IN kicks off their 2023
Holiday Season with the Opening of the Festival of Trees on Thursday, November 16,  2023, from 5:30-
8:00 p.m. EST. This free admission evening is jam packed with all the joys of the holidays. The
museum will have over 40 decorated trees displayed from communities and organizations,
decorations adorning the exhibits to make it all festive and cheery, seasonal and lively music
provided by the Patoka River Dulcimers, new additions added to the Kay Smock Collection of
Santa Claus figurines and two new temporary exhibits by the Exhibits Team for the Christmas
season.

Beginning Thursday, November 16, the Exhibit Team will open a temporary exhibit called,
“Christmas Memories” The display will run till February 2024. Christmas items will be displayed
with many explanations of the symbolic and biblical meanings of why we display these items.  This
exhibit will be set up in the temporary exhibit space behind the Military Exhibit in Room One. This
display presents a perfect photo opportunity for your family holiday picture.

The second display, also a temporary exhibit, will focus on WW1 military. Special to the museum is a
WW1 Liberty truck, as well as, uniforms, memorabilia items from our vast collection and explanations of
how the men and women overseas had to celebrate Christmas away from their families. This exhibit is
set up in Room Two with the Farm Equipment and will also run till February 2024.
Returning this year for the Festival of Trees program is the opportunity to vote for your favorite
decorated Christmas tree. Ballots will be available at the ramp landing and visitors are asked to vote for
their favorite three trees. These trees are so colorful and jolly that it is hard to narrow your selection to
just one tree. Trees in the competition will be numbered. Ballots will be tallied and the winners of the
Decorating Contest will be announced on Thursday, December 21 at the Christmas Evening at the
Museum as the museum celebrates the season and the year. This is another free evening for everyone
to come and enjoy the museum. Museum opens from 5:30-8:00pm this evening.

The Patoka River Dulcimers will again take the log house porch “stage” and entertain from 5:30-7:30pm
with a blend of seasonal and lively music on November 16. They were a big hit at the Fall Harvest Day in
October.

Back by popular demand, The Dubois County Museum has on display the extensive Collection of Santa
Claus figurines and Santa Claus items from local resident Kay Smock.  What had begun as a love of Christmas, continued for many years for county resident Kay Smock.  Christmas was special to Kay and it
was made especially precious by the time spent with her grandmother.  Kay began collecting Santa Claus
pieces and would share her love of Christmas with her grandmother.  But, finally after over 25 years, Kay
decided that she didn’t have enough room for this extensive collection. After approaching the museum
some years ago, a part of her collection found a home at the Dubois County Museum.  The Collection,
numbering over 1,100 pieces, was donated to the Museum’s Collections Department. It included the
following: Lenox, Clothtique Santa’s by Possible Dreams (the oldest being from 1988), Vailliancort Folk
Art, Hallmark ornaments, Kurt Adler, Memories of Santa Earthenware started in 1983, Olde World
Christmas Ornaments, prints by D. Morgan, Overly-Raker, tins, towels, fabric Santa Claus’ made by an
folk artist from Orleans, porcelain figurines, hand-blown glass ornaments, platters, and bisque items
painted by Kay herself. This year Kay added ninety-seven more Santa Claus Clothtique figurines and
ornaments to her collection.

Don’t miss your opportunity to visit the museum this holiday season.

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