
DATE: Sunday, November 16, 1997             TAG: 9711140249

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   50 lines

OPENING NIGHT GALA TO BENEFIT CANCER TREATMENT CENTER

It could become as popular a holiday lighting ceremony as Norfolk's Christmas lights parade or Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination.

It's the Chesapeake Holiday Wonderland's Opening Night Gala, the Nov. 19 kickoff to Chesapeake Hospital's three-day holiday fund-raiser. The Holiday Wonderland, to be held at the Chesapeake Golf Club, will benefit the hospital's Cancer Treatment Center.

The Holiday Wonderland, open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 20-22, will include more than 20 trees and wreaths designed by the city's top artists, florists and designers; gingerbread and chocolate house exhibits; lavish holiday lights; continuous seasonal entertainment; special displays; children's activities; and holiday workshops.

``We'll be serving champagne and heavy hors d'ouevres and people will see Mayor Ward crowned as our first Snow King,'' said Irene Hurst, the Gala's chairperson. ``I felt it only fitting and proper that the person with the highest office in the city should be the very first Snow King.''

Participants will be serenaded into a festive mood by the holiday songs of the Chesapeake Civic Chorus under the direction of Geraldine T. Boone and performances by the Strolling Strings. The Civic Chorus will perform the ``Hallelujah'' chorus from Handel's ``Messiah.''

``After the chorus sings it six times, we will then catch our breath, and all of the holiday lights on the trees, in the wreaths, around the buildings and everywhere else will all go on at the same time,'' Hurst said. ``And the trains in our extensive holiday set-up will all begin running. I think that will be one very special moment for Chesapeake Christmas 1997.''

The Gala also will feature early bird bidding on custom-decorated trees and wreaths. WVEC television personality Mike Gooding will be the evening's master of ceremonies and auctioneer. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WANT TO GO?

What: Opening Night Gala of the Chesapeake General Hospital

Healthcare Foundation-sponsored Holiday Wonderland

When: 7 p.m., Nov. 19.

Where: Chesapeake Country Club, 1201 Clubhouse Drive (Las

Gaviotas neighborhood off Cedar Road)

Cost: Tickets, available by invitation only, are $50 per person

with proceeds to benefit the hospital's Cancer Treatment Center.

Call: To obtain your invitation or for more information, call

424-1635 or 420-2156.

Dress: Black-tie formal