Pony Express Riders will travel 150-miles in celebration of history, heritage, and the holidays as 120 Pony Express Christmas Couriers carry proclamations to the communities in the seven counties (Atascosa, Bexar, Comal, Goliad, Guadalupe, Karnes, Wilson) of the Alamo-La Bahia Corridor and other segments of the Camino Real de los Tejas to San Antonio.

They will arrive in Panna Maria Saturday, December 1, 2007 at approximately 10:30 AM.

The Panna Maria Historical Society will open the historic Snoga’s Store from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Homemade baked goods, sausage wraps, soft drinks and coffee will be available for purchase. Santa Claus will be present from 9:30 a.m. until noon to visit and take pictures with the children. The Panna Maria Post Office will be open from 8 a.m. until noon. The Postmaster will stamp all outgoing mail with the special "Pony Express" pictorial cancellation. Upon request, she will be able to use the "Pony Express" pictorial cancellation through January 6, 2008 on mail sent from Panna Maria.

Visitors may visit the historic Immaculate Conception of BVM Catholic Church and the beautifully restored St. Joseph School Museum. The Panna Maria Visitors Center will also be open and will have memorabilia available including Christmas cards.

The City of Kenedy, Kenedy Chamber of Commerce and Kenedy Parks and Recreation Board are sponsoring a dedication ceremony celebrating the completion of a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant in conjunction with Christmas Along the Corridor. The Pony Express rider will stop at Joe Gulley Park for the event set for 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 1.

Postmaster Jimmy Loya will provide a temporary Pony Express Postmark and visitors are encouraged to bring stamped Christmas card envelopes to have canceled with the postmark.

See next week’s newspaper for more information on local Christmas Along the Corridor events.