CASSOPOLIS — Those looking to get their holiday celebrations started a little early will have a chance to do so, thanks to the Cass County Council on Aging.

The COA will host its annual Christmas dinner at noon on Dec. 14 at its Lower Center in Cassopolis and Front Street Crossing in Dowagiac locations. The event will allow area seniors to visit the COA, which is fully decorated for the Christmas season, to enjoy a full ham dinner, complete with dessert. In addition, the COA will provide entertainment at the event and give away a set number of poinsettias. Entry is $5 per person, regardless of age.

“It’ll just be so much fun,” said event organizer Sandi Hoger. “It’s one of my favorite events [that the COA puts on] all year.”

Hoger has been involved with the Christmas dinner since it started about 15 years ago.

One year, the usual COA dinner was labeled as a Christmas party by the the COA nutrition service, and Hoger and her co-workers decided to go with it, eventually adding decorations and entertainment, she said.

“It just kind of happened,” Hoger said. “And we’ve been doing it ever since.”

Cass County seniors seem to respond well to the event, Hoger said. Many of them come back year after year and dress up for the party by wearing the colors of red and green.

Hoger said she always looks forward to the Christmas party and that she is excited to host it for the same reason she is excited to host every COA event. It gives her a chance to make the lives of area seniors a bit brighter.

“We like catering to the seniors. We do everything we can for them,” she said. “Some seniors live far away from their families and might not get the chance to have a Christmas dinner with their families, so we have this.”

Country music band Touch of Texas will be performing at the COA Lowe Center during the event to provide entertainment. The band has played many events for the COA and has become a favorite among the seniors who frequent COA events, Hoger said.

“People really enjoy them,” Hoger said of the band. “[The COA] has a good relationship with them, so we continue to use them.”

Hoger said that she hopes the public will turn out to the event, as she believes anyone can find the event enjoyable.

“It really is a fun time,” she said.