The holiday season is about to begin.

November is the month of Thanksgiving, Chef’s Sampler, Holiday Open House, historical plaques presentations and the fair, to name a few.

Chef’s Sampler, Holiday Open House, Christmas Parade, Christmas on the Square, plus a whole host of events in November and December are infectious holiday outings.

One of my favorites is the Chef’s Sampler hosted by the Arts Council.

It is set for Nov. 12, which is coming up fast. If you have never been to a Chef’s Sampler, go!

It’s a chance to sample some of our finest offerings from our local restaurants and caterers. Here, they don their real chef’s hats and white button down coats, sharpen their knives, and prepare some of their most skillful and creative dishes.

It’s all there for us to sample.

So, grab a plate, peruse the outer circle food offerings of the Firehouse Gallery, and pick up choice morsels and samplings. Wine also is served.

Remember to notice from where you receive your food samples. These chefs not only donate their time to this event, but they have to foot the bill for the food they serve. And when you have to prepare for several hundred hungry folks, that bill can be considerable.

Tickets to the sampler are $20 for all you can eat. Stick around for the live auction, and you can also purchase raffle tickets for $1 to win a host of other prizes.

Monday, Nov. 9, hosts the Decatur County Historical Society dinner at The Charter House Inn. Program consists of awarding historical plaques to two residences that have achieved historical significance in the community. Dinner is served at 7 p.m. Call 248-0955 for non-member reservations, which are greatly received. The Historical Society seeks many new members to help fund the reopening of the Decatur County Museum, hopefully next year at this time.

Another of my favorites is Holiday Open House, held the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, so Holiday Open House is Sunday, Nov. 22. Some stores around Bainbridge observe the event, but the merchants downtown get the preponderance of crowds when they display their Christmas merchandise, and offer refreshments to shoppers.

Here’s where you also can purchase the collectible Christmas ornament, with a rendering this year by local artist Mary Cox of the old Bainbridge Hospital. Ornaments are $8 and are available during the entire Christmas season from downtown merchants or from city hall.

Don’t forget the fair.

The fair is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, to Saturday, Nov. 7.

You can don your own chef’s hat and enter the Old-Fashioned Fair competition in pies, cakes, breads, jams and jellies, pickled foods and quilts. Call the Chamber and get an entry application before Oct. 30.

Kiddie rides and prizes abound at the first few nights of the fair, which traditionally attracts young families. It’s always fun to see some youngster carry out a giant panda won during one of the contests. Older crowds dominate Friday and Saturday nights. The fair is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and is its major fund-raiser, which finances its community program agendas.

December begins with Christmas on the River on Dec. 3. It’s a giant tree lighting ceremony at the boat basin with sing-a-longs, fire truck rides and other activities at the Performing Arts Building.

Also in December, the annual Christmas Parade, Dec. 10.

Downtown merchants are back on Dec. 17, a Thursday night of late shopping, again with refreshments, hay rides, marshmallow roasts and other seasonal activities.

Finally, Carols in the Park Christmas Eve sponsored annually by The Post-Searchlight.

See you there.