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Holiday events on the Eastside
(by Christine Bryant, Eastside Editor - November 24, 2010)
Reynoldsburg and Pickerington are gearing up for a busy holiday season, with several activities planned in both communities.
Reynoldsburg
• Annual tree lighting - Reynoldsburg will hold its annual tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m., Nov. 29 at the municipal building. 7232 E. Main St.
• Holiday Nature Crafts for Kids - Kids ages 3 to 12 will enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of craft making from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at Blacklick Woods Metro Park. Meet at the nature center.
Pickerington
• Decorating contest - Businesses and residents who are participating in the holiday decoration contest must turn in information forms to the Parks and Recreation Department by noon Dec. 2. Any building in the Olde Village section may compete. Trophies will be awarded to the best decoration in each category - business and residence. Winners will be announced at the Holiday Gathering Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 3 at Gazebo Park at the corner of Columbus and Center streets. Forms are available in the Parks and Recreation office at 100 Lockville Road.
• Plaza Lighting Project - The PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington is selling tree lights, individually or by the strand, to raise money for the facility. Sold lights will be put on trees in the Plaza area, next to the Carnegie Historical Museum. The accumulated lights will be lit throughout the holiday season, beginning at the tree lighting ceremony of the community’s holiday gathering, which will occur Dec. 3 just across Columbus Street. The sale will continue until New Year’s, however. Call Diana Kassouf at (614) 834-1170 or (614) 834-0079 for more details. Individual lights sell for $5; strands cost $125.
• Mitten Tree lighting - Join Mayor Mitch O’Brien as he kicks off the holiday season turning on the lights on the city’s Mitten Tree from 4 to 4:30 p.m., Dec. 3 at City Hall, 100 Lockville Road. Donated winter clothing accessories can be dropped off at City Hall. Contact Fiona Spears at (614) 837-3974 for more information.
• Olde Village Holiday - The Olde Pickerington Village Business Association will host its annual Olde Village Holiday from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 in Olde Pickerington. Activities include carriage rides, luminaries down Columbus Street, visits with Santa, free children’s crafts at Hair Boutique, free antler headbands at Deblin Design, strolling caroling done by the Pickerington Children’s Choir and by the Pickerington Kiwanis Key Clubs, storytelling and book reading at the Pickerington-Violet Township Historical Society, kickoff for the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington “Strand of Light” fundraiser, Olde Village Holiday Light Contest results announced by the Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department, and a 7:30 p.m. village tree lighting.
• Breakfast with Santa - Pickerington’s Breakfast with Santa will be held Dec. 4 at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive. Seatings will be at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Tickets are $6, and children age 2 and younger eat free.
Besides the breakfast, there will be interaction with Santa Claus, a secret Santa shop, a craft and bake sale, a child’s craft activity, clowns and holiday music from the Pickerington Suzuki Fiddles and the Yule Two. Tickets may be purchased by mail with included information listing the family’s name, the preferred seating time and a check for the amount made out to the “Pickerington Senior Center.” Those tickets will be at the will call table on the day of the event. Send ticket requests to Don Ross, City Hall, 100 Lockville Road, Pickerington, OH 43147. Only 500 tickets were printed. None will be available on the day of the event. Profits from the event will go to the senior center. For more information, contact the city’s parks department at (614) 833-2211.
• Ornaments from Nature - Make an ornament from natural materials while enjoying a hot drink from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 4 at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park. Meet at the park office, 7680 Wright Road.
• Annual Santa Saturday - Join Santa at the Pickerington Public Library from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4. The event will include crafts, music, games and a visit with Santa, who will arrive at 1 p.m. and stay until 3 p.m. The One More Time String Band will perform from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The library is located at 201 Opportunity Way.
• Letters to Santa - Letters to Santa may be mailed from city hall. The city of Pickerington has put up “The North Pole Express” mailbox in front of city hall at 100 Lockville Road. Area youngsters can deposit letters to Santa Claus in the box, and then will receive an answering letter from Santa well before Christmas. The dropped letter must include the child’s name and home address so that Santa and his helpers can respond. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Senior Center partner in the project. The deadline for depositing letters is Dec. 12.
Send your holiday listings to eastside@columbusmessenger.com.
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