(Posted Nov. 16, 2016)
Towns across Madison County are gearing up for their annual Christmas celebrations. Mark your calendars now.
• London—Nov. 28. The Downtown London Association (DLA) will present London’s Old Fashioned Christmas from 5 to 9 p.m. on and around Main Street. Business open houses, carriage rides, a visit from Santa, live entertainment, and live reindeer are all part of the festivities.
A food drive will benefit local pantries. Downtown businesses will compete in a holiday “Deck the Door” contest. Visitors can vote for the best decorated front door by placing non-perishable food items in the collection box at that location.
• Mount Sterling—Dec. 2-4. The Mount Sterling Chamber of Commerce will host a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the gazebo across from town hall and a parade at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3.
A gingerbread house contest is planned. Categories are adults, youths, and businesses. Entries must be dropped off by 5 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Mount Sterling Community Center. Entries will be displayed 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 3 and 2-4 p.m. Dec. 4. The public is invited to vote for their favorites.
A Jingle Bell “Just for Fun” Run is set for Dec. 3 at the Community Center. The 5K starts at 10 a.m.; the mile starts at 10:15. All ages are welcome. There is no entry fee. Donations of non-perishable food will be accepted for Cans for a Cause. An ugly sweater contest will follow the run/walk in the community center.
On Dec. 4, the Community Center will host several activities from 2 to 4 p.m., including a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Mount Sterling Library craft, horse-drawn wagon rides, a performance by the United Methodist Church handbell choir, and a “Christmas past” display by the Mount Sterling Community Museum. Children can make Christmas cards to send to patients at Veterans Hospital in Chillicothe. Games, crafts and refresh-ments also are planned. Every child will receive a gift. Silent auction bids will be taken for a Christmas quilt made by the Sew Social Ladies Dec. 2-23.
• Plain City—Dec. 3. The Uptown Plain City Organization will host the 15th Annual Christmas Under the Clock from 5 to 8 p.m. A tree lighting at Main and Chilli-cothe streets will kick off the evening.
Also planned are craft vendors, business open houses, wagon rides, photos with Santa, live music, an auction of holiday decorations and gift items, and a drawing for a $250 gift card.
For details, visit uptownplaincity.com.
• West Jefferson—Dec. 9-11. Christ-mas in the Park will take place at Garrette Park, which will be decorated with thousands of lights and holiday decora-tions. Activities are planned from 5:30-10 p.m. Dec. 9, 5:30-10 p.m. Dec. 10, and 5-9 p.m. Dec. 11. Santa will arrive at the park at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 to flip the switch to officially light the park, after which he will retire to the Santa House to hear children’s Christmas wishes.
The park will stay lit nightly through Jan. 1. For more information, go online to http://wjchristmaspark.org.
