Ghost and Bingo and Santa, Oh My!

The children are back at school, fall has arrived and the River Hill Community Association is planning many exciting activities for everyone in the neighborhood. With neighborhood parties and good family fun on the horizon, Claret Hall will be your family’s one-stop source for positive community activities.

October kicks off with our annual “Haunted Hallows Eve” event on Friday, October 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the River Hill Village Center. Ghosts and goblins are invited to Trick-or-Treat in the Village Center and then come to Claret Hall for face painting, games, crafts and ghoulish fun. Dean Turner, magician, will also be on hand to mesmerize residents with his tricks and illusions from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Claret Hall. So gather your kids and make it a special night in the River Hill Village Center.

November is our month of giving. Each year the Association designates an organization in need. This year’s theme, Families Helping Families, will focus on the needs of local food banks and will serve as a River Hill initiative to try to meet the growing need in our community for food. Currently the Howard County Food Bank is depleted and has asked for help. The contributions collected in Claret Hall during the month of November will be distributed to the Howard County Food Bank. Currently, we are requesting items like canned fruits, vegetables, soups, and juices as well as toiletries such as toothpaste and tooth brushes. There will be boxes placed inside Claret Hall from November 1-30 to drop off food and/or toiletries. Your donations will make a difference for hundreds of families living in Howard County.

November also brings the return of Family Bingo Night. This free event will be held on Friday, November 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Claret Hall. Prizes, fun and an opportunity to bond with neighbors are only a few of the benefits of this family fun event. Support this popular game night tradition in River Hill and get yourself ready to yell “BINGO.”

December’s events begin with Breakfast/ Lunch with Santa. This popular River Hill tradition will be on held Saturday, December 4 and offers families the opportunity to dine with Santa while children enjoy crafts, cookie decorating and games with the elves. Tickets go on sale in November and will sell out quickly. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to share a picture, create a family memory and spend some quality time with the world’s most popular elf.

Another River Hill tradition is the Nutcracker performance. Enjoy this ballet rendition by students of Cindee Velle as they enchant your family with this popular winter story. This year there will be two performances, 2 and 4 p.m., on December 11. Free tickets will be available mid-November. The River Hill Community Association invites your family to take advantage of the many free or low-cost family activities offered at Claret Hall and looks forward to creating community memories with our neighbors. To be notified of upcoming events, sign up for the Association’s listserv by visiting www.villageofriverhill.org and click on “Receive Village News by Email.” Subscribe to receive notifications of special events and other topics of interest.