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 The City Lake — with its holiday-trimmed shelterhouse, manger scene, youthful carolers and musicians, illuminated walking path and cheery lakefront homes — provided the perfect setting for Miracle on Metcalf: Candy Cane Lane on Saturday.
Congratulations to the Louisburg Rotary Club and all the organizations, churches, city staff members and lake residents who pulled off this memorable evening. The impressiveness of the new shelterhouse was not lost on those who gathered for the merriment.
“This is a very nice addition to the lake,” Cyndi Hutson said of the shelterhouse. “We have a family reunion every two years, and this would be a great place to have it.”
The shelterhouse was furnished with handsome, black and tan recyclable picnic tables made from plastic milk cartons. The tables weigh in at about 400 pounds apiece.
Also impressive were dozens of luminaries along the walking path, and lake homes and yards festooned with Christmas lights, their reflections shimmering on the lake surface on this blustery winter night. Fire pits dotting shoreline properties, cups of hot chocolate and warm holiday greetings from neighbors and strangers alike kept residents aglow with the holiday spirit.
 Charlene Wise prepared trays of sweet marshmallows for passersby. The chocolate-covered marshmallow I had was wonderful.
Carolers, made up of The Lake subdivision youths, could be heard across the lake as they serenaded strolling residents.
Lake resident Jennifer Unthank was thankful the chilly night was not flaked with snow or ice.
“They (carolers) have been practicing for this night, and we were hoping for good weather and a good turnout,” Unthank said.
Her first Christmas wish of the season was granted, as hundreds of residents congregated at the lake to see Santa and participate in the festivities.
When the young carolers were not singing, they huddled inside the Domann home with cups of hot chocolate and a rousing game of Guitar Hero.
The popular guitar-simulation game is probably on dozens of Christmas lists this year. Ginny Dobbs, owner of Louisburg Barber Shop, said Saturday morning one of her customers bought the game for his kids. “But he said every morning he gets up and finds his wife playing Guitar Hero in her jammies.”
Holiday Mart proved to be a popular attraction Saturday. The Louisburg Middle School Parent-Teacher-Student Organization fund-raiser featured dozens of vendors hawking holiday-themed knickknacks, apparel, jewelry, decor, accessories and other items. The school commons and gym were converted into a wall-to-wall Christmas shopping center.
The annual extravaganza also featured some tasty treats.
Andy Nowachek, owner of Nowachek Apiaries near Louisburg, displayed two plastic bottles of honey, one darker than the traditional golden hue. Nowachek said the darker honey was bottled in 2007, when a series of spring freezes interrupted pollination.
“This year, the bees had all spring to work,” said Nowachek of the golden bottle.
The attractively packaged Shoenhair Coffee also caught my eye. Chuck Shoenhair, Camden Point, Mo., imports about 1,000 pounds of coffee beans from the Dominican Republic every six months to keep pace with demand.
“The beans are green when I import them, and then I roast them,” Shoenhair explained of the specialty coffee that bears his name.
If you’re hungry for jerky, you couldn’t do better than the variety of flavors Mike Martin, owner of 4D Acres emu farm southwest of Louisburg, had on display. If you’re in the festive mood, try the cranberry emu jerky. It’s delicious.
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