CELEBRATE THE SEASON IN BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL BLOOMINGTON, IL -The month of December offers plenty of excitement for the holiday season, with parades, history, theater, shopping and even a holiday basketball tournament. Come celebrate with us and enjoy the holiday cheer. "Once Upon a Holiday" kicks off at the beginning of the month on December 3rd and 4th. This annual family event features tours of the Vrooman Mansion, the David Davis Mansion, live window displays, a Christmas Parade, great holiday shopping, horse and carriage rides and trolley rides all in downtown Bloomington. The annual Bloomington-Normal Jaycees "Christmas Parade" will spread the cheer through Normal and Bloomington on Saturday, December 4th beginning at 10 a.m. The Funk Prairie Home offers a historic look at early holiday traditions with their "Pioneer Christmas" at the Funk Prairie Home through December 30th. Also historical holiday traditions continue at the David Davis Mansion with "Christmas at Clover Lawn" through December 30th. Both Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University will offer holiday events including "The Nutcracker" performed at Braden Auditorium, December 3rd - 6th and the Illinois State University Madrigal Dinner, through December 11th. Illinois State University also offers "Music for the Holidays" on December 5th. The USA Ballet will perform the "Night before Christmas" at Illinois Wesleyan University, December 17th - 19th. The Pantagraph's "Holiday Spectacular" runs from December 10 through 12th at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. The show is a live holiday program featuring the best singing and dancing from Central Illinois' professionals and amateurs. High School basketball takes center court in Bloomington-Normal following the Christmas holiday. The State Farm Holiday Classic is the largest co-ed holiday high school tournament in the nation, inviting 32 high school boys' teams and 32 high school girls' teams each year. This year's tournament is scheduled to take place Dec. 27th -30th. More information about the tournament is available at the tournament's website located at www.theclassic.org. For more details on these events and many more, please visit our Events Calendar. -30- State Farm Holiday Classic photo courtesy of Alan Look.