(Posted Nov. 20, 2015)
Towns across Madison County are gearing up for their annual Christmas celebrations. Mark your calendars now.
London—Nov. 30. 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.
Also planned is a food drive to 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. 4-6. The Mount Sterling Chamber of Commerce will host a tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the gazebo across from town hall. Santa will arrive on a fire engine and a choir will sing traditional carols.
On Dec. 5, the Mount Sterling Youth Athletic Association will hold a breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mount Sterling Community Center. Local businesses will hold open houses from 2 to 6 p.m.
On Dec. 6, the Community Center will host several activities from 2 to 4 p.m., including a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, 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 Christmas cards to send to patients at Veterans Hospital in Chillicothe. Games, crafts and refreshments also are planned.
The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a business and residential decorating contest. Pre-registration is not required. Anyone in the village of Mount Sterling, including McClimansville and Burr Oak, are welcome to participate. They just need to have their lights on for judging on Dec. 6. Winners will be announced by Dec.8. Cash prizes will go to first, second and third places.
Plain City—Dec. 5. The Uptown Plain City Organization will host the 14th Annual Christmas Under the Clock from 5 to 8 p.m. A tree lighting at Main and Chillicothe streets kicks 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. 11-13. Christmas in the Park will take place at Garrette Park, which will be decorated with thousands of lights and holiday decorations. Activities are planned from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Dec. 11, 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 12, and 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 13. Santa will arrive at the park at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 11 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.
