The first annual La Grange Christmas Special, sponsored by Historic La Grange, Inc., proved to be a great success. Several talented performers, along with special guest James Hyter, presented a program of classical and traditional Christmas music to a capacity audience at La Grange Methodist Church on Saturday, November 27th, 1999.

As an encore, by special request from the audience, Hyter invited the other performers to join him in singing his signature solo piece "Ol Man River," and ended the performance with an impromptu ensemble rendition of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Also performing were soprano Abigail Haynes of Bartlett, Ashley Vines of Germantown, Jane Soffos of Memphis, and cellist Carol Fry of Memphis. A wine and hors d'oevours reception followed at Woodlawn Plantation. Historic La Grange, Inc. plans to make this program an annual cultural event highlighting La Grange's role as the earliest cultural center of West Tennessee and showcasing local and regional talent.

Historic La Grange, Inc. is a recently formed non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the La Grange Historic District. This event netted approximately $7,000 in ticket sales and donations, which are earmarked for use as matching funds for grants available for historic preservation and improvements. High on the priority list are efforts to obtain grant funds to build walking trails in the historic district.