(Posted Nov. 17, 2022)
London, Plain City, Mount Sterling, South Solon and West Jefferson are gearing up for celebrations of their own.
• London-Nov. 27. The 1811 Downtown District is excited to bring this year’s Old Fashioned Christmas to life. The event is set for Nov. 27 from 2 to 6 p.m.
Characters from Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” will greet visitors, and instrumentalists and carolers will perform live Christmas music. Children are encouraged to bring their wish lists with them as Santa Claus will visit London that afternoon.
Activities include face painting, Christmas crafts, Christmas story reading, horse-drawn carriage rides and balloon artists. London High School’s band and choir will perform, First United Methodist Church will offer cookie decorating. McDonald’s is hosting characters from Whoville and Disney, and live reindeer will be staying in the restaurant’s parking lot while Santa is in town.
Prior to Old Fashioned Christmas, the London State Theater will show “A Christmas Story” at 12:30 p.m.; admission is free. Local shops will be open, and many will serve hot chocolate.
Visitors should bring their appetites as food trucks will be available. Additionally, First United Methodist Church will serve up their annual soup and sandwich dinner supporting Sufficient Grace and youth programs.
• South Solon-Dec. 3. Children of South Solon, mark your calendars now. You are invited to a Christmas party set for 2-4 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Stokes Township/South Solon Fire Department.
Santa and his elves will be there, handing out gifts. Pictures with Santa can be purchased for $5. Half the proceeds will go back into next year’s Christmas in the Village party. Enjoy snacks and holiday cheer.
Resident Tiphany Kennedy-Chaffin is hosting the party with support from the fire department, Stokes Township trustees, and others in the community.
• Plain City–Dec. 3. Plain City’s Christmas celebration is scheduled for Dec. 3. Highlights include a tree lighting, Santa Claus, the Starlight Twirlers and other entertainment, prize raffles, and business open houses.
The festivities are presented in two parts. First, the Route 42 Holiday Hop runs from 9 a.m. to noon. Then, Christmas Under the Clock runs from 4 to 7 p.m. in uptown Plain City. Santa’s parade follows the tree lighting at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit the village’s website, www.plain-city.com.
• Mount Sterling–Dec. 3. Christmas in the Village will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Mount Sterling. Visitors can expect a petting zoo, live nativity scene, horse-drawn carriage rides, tree lighting, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Food trucks, a Shop Hop, chili cookoff, caricature artist, face painter, an illuminated parade, and vendors also are planned. A Secret Santa gift shop, a Santa letter-writing station, and quilt display are among the other attractions.
The Mount Sterling Community Center is organizing a decorated tree auction. Any business or organization that would like to decorate and donate a tabletop tree for the auction can contact Tamra Hall at (614) 271-2316.
Anyone interested in participating in the illuminated parade is asked to contact Tim Corbin at (614) 530-3132. The parade will assemble in the Mount Sterling Community Center parking lot at 5:30 p.m. and step off at 6 p.m., winding through town to the gazebo across from town hall.
Reservations for indoor and outdoor vendor spots can be made by calling Barbie Wallace at (614) 832-0796. Indoor spots are $40; outdoor spots under a giant tent are $30; food truck spaces are $50.
• West Jefferson–Dec. 9-10. The West Jefferson Community Association is once again hosting Christmas in the Park. Hundreds of thousands of lights will decorate Garrette Park. The lights will be turned on nightly starting Nov. 25.
The kickoff celebration is set for 5-10 p.m. Dec. 9-10. Visitors will be treated to live entertainment, food, horse and carriage rides, a parade and more. Children can visit with Santa both nights to share their wish lists. A trackless train ride is one of the new features this year.
Anyone who would like to participate in the parade is asked to assemble at 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at American Legion Post 201. Organizers also are looking for two small singing groups to fill slots in the entertainment schedule. For information, call Carol Beachy, association president, at (614) 879-9036 or leave a message on the association’s voicemail at (614) 879-8818.
