Santa Claus is Putting on His Flip-Flops to Visit Marshall, Texas Saturday, July 14

You've heard the old saying "Christmas in July." Well, even Santa needs a summer vacation away from the North Pole. Santa needs time to relax before a busy holiday season gets underway that's why he's coming to Marshall, Texas on July 14.

Santa Claus will arrive by boat to his Santa’s Workshop on North Washington in downtown Marshall. Santa is expected at 9:30 a.m. as the “Christmas In July” event hosted by Marshall Main Street as part of the Second Saturday festivals held throughout the year. Santa will help start the countdown for Marshall’s Wonderland of Lights Festival and then receive visits from children to hear their wishes for Christmas.

Second Saturday browsing begins at 9 a.m. when a blend of music and vendors are stationed along North Washington Avenue. Musicians will perform until mid-afternoon right on the street. Vendors provide unique and ever-changing array of merchandise -- from custom beaded jewelry and pillows handcrafted from burlap sacking and “found” objects to farm-fresh eggs, homemade bread and homegrown produce.

To help celebrate Santa’s summer visit, downtown Marshall merchants are serving free hot dogs beginning at 9:45 a.m. to the first 500 people to add to the holiday spirit. It’s just part of the day long holiday activities.

Marshall’s downtown shops and restaurants offer food and drink as well as unique gift and home furnishings, antiques, linens and fashion clothing and accessories.

Another great event is the Main Street Second Saturday Art Party. A team of art instructors guide the painters using an exclusive "patent pending" teaching method which streamlines classical and traditional techniques allowing novice painters to have a good time and be amazed at what they accomplish in just a few hours. Adults only. $35 per person. Call 903-938-9860 or email dswendson@marshalltexas.net.

Marshall Main Street Cruise Night by the BackRoads Bunch begins at 5 p.m., although the quest for vantage point parking begins hours earlier. Vintage, classic or “rat rod” – there’s no restriction on the kind of car or vehicle that can be displayed, so the variety is wide and the line of vehicles is long – nearly 200 vehicles at every Second Saturday event.

But the entertainment continues into the evening. At 6:30 p.m. The Blue Frog Grill hosts song writers in “Words & Voices” that feature an array of original music. To cap off the evening a free concert performance by Good Time Rounders will be in Telegraph Park. This group, from Marshall, has been performing together through-out the mid-west and is excited to perform in their hometown.

For more information contact Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at 301 N. Washington Ave., by phoning 903-702-7777 or emailing info@visitmarshalltexas.org. Visit them at .VisitMarshallTexas.org, or on Facebook.

(Source:Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau)