(Posted Nov. 17, 2023)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The first Saturday in December (Dec. 2) promises to be a festive one from sunup to sundown in South Charleston.
Pancake Breakfast
The days starts off with a pancake breakfast at Madison Township Fire & EMS, 222 W. Columbus St. The department will accept donations for the meals. For details, call (937) 462-8222.
Christmas in South Charleston
The South Charleston Community Club is hosting Christmas in South Charleston from 12 to 7 p.m. in the village’s historic district.
This marks a new day of the week and new hours for the big event. In the past, the festivities were held on the first Wednesday evening of the month. Organizers moved it to the first Saturday afternoon and evening this year to allow more flexibility for area families’ schedules.
The schedule of events is as follows:
12 p.m.–Parade steps off, food trucks and vendors open, and the shop hop Passport program starts
12:30-4:30 p.m.–Houston Library, 5 W. Jamestown St., will participate in Christmas in South Charleston from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Youths ages 17 and younger are invited to be a Grinch helper and go on a “Christmas Present Hunt.” Exchange the gift you find for a goody bag. Mini sandwiches and cookies will be available at no charge to the public while supplies last. Play Grinch cornhole, make a Grinchy craft, try your luck at a beanbag toss, and visit the Friends of the Library Book Sale.
1:30-4 p.m.–Pictures with Santa at All About You Hair & Nail Salon, 164 N. Chillicothe St.
4:30-6:30 p.m.–Pictures with the Grinch at Village Cup/Chic, 17 S. Chillicothe St.
6 p.m.–Raffle and Passport prize drawings
6:30 p.m.–Lighting of the Christmas tree at town hall, 35 S. Chillicothe St.
Food trucks scheduled for the day include Poppy’s Smokehouse, Cray Cray Cajun, Thai1On, Mad Concessions selling Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, coneys, and more, Griddles & Cheese, Cloudy Days selling cotton candy, and Sweet Concessions, a cinnamon roll truck.
Vendors will be set up inside First Presbyterian Church, 15 N. Chillicothe St. Spaces cost $25. To rent a space, contact Mackenzee Litteral at (937) 561-5112.
The Passport program invites children to collect stamps at stores in the historic district for a chance to win a prize. Stores will be open, offering holiday shopping and activities.
The raffle features all sorts of merchandise and gift cards. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. They are available for purchase at Village Cup, Shoemaker’s IGA, 111 S. Chillicothe St., and Village Country Mini Mart, 3 E. Columbus St. They also will be sold the day of the event.
Winners of the house lighting contest will be announced. Judging will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Participants must fill out a registration form and return it by Nov. 24 to Village Chic or Park National Bank, 102 S. Chillicothe St. The categories are: It’s a Wonderful Life (traditional white lights), Ernest Saves Christmas (redneck theme), A Christmas Story (people’s choice), and Clark W. Griswold (most lights).
For more information about any part of Christmas in South Charleston, contact Karman McKee Ogden at (614) 353-8525.
Christmas Concert
The day wraps up with the annual Community Choir Concert at 7 p.m. in the opera house at town hall. Admission is free. The choir will sing Christmas classics, from “White Christmas” to “What Child is This.” Southeastern High School’s choir will join the performance, as well.
