It will be “A Christmas To Remember” will be unveiled Friday, Nov. 17 when Hollydays 2006 officially kicks off the holiday season in the Portsmouth area at the Friends Community Center, 1202 18th St.

For 24 years, the local hospital has hosted a holiday fundraiser in November showcasing the talent of many in the community with their imagination in creating trees, wreaths, wall trees and centerpieces.

This year will not be an exception. The gala begins at 6 p.m. with dinner catered by Southern Ohio Medical Center's Dietary Services and an opportunity for guests to bid on the items that have been carefully decorated for this year's event, depicting the theme.

A craft fair will be open in the LIFE Center gymnasium and music will be provided by Jim Schmidt. Randy Arnett will serve as master of ceremonies.

The doors open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18. Admission is $2 per person. This year there will be two offerings for Breakfast with Santa, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Cost is $5 per person. Santa will be present throughout the day.

Entertainment will begin on stage at 11 a.m. and continue through 5 p.m.

Funland, Snack Bar and Sweetland will be open as well as a giant Craft Fair in the gymnasium. The Hospice Memorial Tree will be on display as well as the Hospice memorial quilts.

The exhibition will open again at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 and remain open until 5 p.m. Continuous entertainment, Funland, Sweetland, snack bar and the Craft Fair will be open.

The annual lighting of the Memorial Tree on the main campus, Emergency Department entrance, will take place Monday, Nov. 20.

Loved ones of those who died while an in-patient at SOMC or a patient in the Emergency Department, are invited for a brief service followed by a reception at the Friends' Community Center.

The Hollydays Luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21. This year's luncheon is sold out.

The Train Show will open on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. and remain open until 6 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 26, the Train Show will be open from 12 to 4 p.m. Admission is $2.

Proceeds from this year's event will benefit the In-Patient Hospice Center which is scheduled to open in early 2007 on the SOMC East Campus.