Christmas on Vilano was held on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at the Vilano Pier Pavilion in Vilano Beach, FL. The Church at Vilano hosted the event. It brought the community together for a gathering to celebrate music and dance. Betty Anne Schlegel and Eileen Holden were the co-directors.
Betty Anne played keyboards while different people from the community performed. The Rev. Sam Schlegel welcomed the community and gave closing remarks. Herb Rippe served as the emcee.
Bob Frohardt and Alicia Day led the community sings (“Everyone Sings”) which was a lot of fun getting everyone involved. Alicia, a sophomore at FSU also performed a solo as did Kitty Parlin, Jennifer Levoy, a senior at St. Augustine High School, and Nana Gelashvili, a junior at St. Augustine High School. 
Crescent Beach Baptist Church also participated in the celebration with Erin O’Leary and Gabrielle Frey on the piano. The Chamber Singers from the St. Johns County Center for the Arts at St. Augustine High School performed, as did the Hammock Community Church.
Additional performances included Mark Dougherty on piano. Mark is a third grader at R.B. Hunt Elementary School. The Ladies Ensemble from The Church at Vilano which includes Jane Turner, Kitty Parlin, Alicia Day, Eileen Holden, Janie Church, Jill Scott, Jerry Anne Yancey along with guests Nana Gelashvili and Jennifer Levoy sang a number of songs. I was told that Ms. Galashvili moved here from the Democratic Republic of Georgia.
 The Legacy Dancers of Jacksonville was a special treat for me as I always enjoy watching dancers. Maggie Onimus, a freshman at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts performed “The Children’s March” from “The Nutcracker”. I don’t think any celebration of the Christmas season is complete without “The Nutcracker”.
Free cookies, hot cider and coffee were provided.
 This was a wonderful community event. It was great to see such a nice turnout. The Church at Vilano did an exceptional job planning this event and getting all the wonderful musicians, singers, and dancers to participate. | 
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