The William Allen White Community Partnership opened the doors of Red Rock State Historic Site for an afternoon of music, history and holiday cheer this past weekend.
The annual White Christmas at Red Rocks concluded the 20th year of operations for the historic home of William Allen White Sunday afternoon. The event included musical performances by Emporia High School’s Vive Voce performance choir and Emporia State Flute Choir.
Also scheduled to perform was Emporian Bobbi Mylnar, who unfortunately took ill the day of the event, according to lead organiser Marcia Lawrence. However, when it comes to the White House, there is always plenty of history to share and longtime Red Rocks spokesman and local historian Roger Heineken was happy to step in and deliver a presentation in Mylnar’s place.
Lawrence says it was a fitting addition to the schedule, as history has always been the greatest gift Red Rocks has given to the city.
This year’s White Christmas at Red Rocks had a little extra special feel to it, as the event was dedicated to the memory of longtime organiser Shai Scribner, who passed away earlier this year. Lawrence, who worked alongside Scribner for many years, says they were very proud to be able to honor her memory with an event that was synonymous with her.
Sunday’s activities came just a day after Scribner’s celebration of life, and was attended by members of her family, including her brother Daniel Scribner, who says the White Christmas was a perfect combination of Scribner’s two greatest passions, history and people.
Red Rocks was designated a state historic site in 2001. It would have its grand opening to the public in its current capacity back in May of 2005.
