Events offer holiday cheer

’Tis the season for parades, cocoa, Santa and fellowship in communities large and small.

While many organizations are offering Christmas-themed events in coming weeks, four Wayne County communities are planning festivals and parades this weekend that draw large crowds.

General admission is free to the outdoor festivals, but it’s advised to take a few dollars because some foods and activities require donation or payment. Many nearby shops and restaurants will offer extended hours and specials.

Friday, Dec. 5 – Richmond

Many organizations are coming together to entertain crowds at the annual Main Street holiday parade in Richmond. This year’s theme is “Storybook Christmas.”

Floats and marchers step off at 7 p.m. from East Main and 10th streets. The parade ends at Elstro Plaza, 47 N. Sixth St., where guests can watch the city’s tree lighting, take photos with Santa and enjoy cocoa.

Richmond Civic Theatre, which is near the parade’s starting point at 1003 E. Main St., will offer an open house from 6-8 p.m. The Community Choristers children’s singing ensemble will perform at 6, followed by RCT’s tree lighting at 6:45. Families can meet Santa at the theater.

Saturday, Dec. 6

Hagerstown

Hagerstown Hometown Christmas kicks off with a biscuits and gravy breakfast from 8-11 a.m. at Nettle Creek Senior Center, 327 E. Main St. Suggested donations toward center maintenance are $3 for one biscuit or $5 for two.

Hagerstown Elementary is home to a bazaar of 90-plus booths from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and a dance recital from 10:30 a.m.-noon at 299 N. Sycamore St. Candy making can be watched from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Abbott’s, 48 E. Walnut St.

More festivities begin at 4 p.m. with an hourlong hand bell concert at The Meeting Place, 11 E. Main St. Until 7 p.m., kids’ games and crafts, face painting, a Christmas train ride and DJ, hand warming stations, and s’mores, cookies and cocoa can be found along Main Street.

Just north of Indiana 38, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Miller Park from 4-6:30 p.m. in the first block of East College Street. The park is adjacent to Hagerstown Public Library, where cookie decorating and kids’ crafts are planned from 4-7 p.m. and storytime runs from 5:30-6:15 p.m.

Board carriages for a ride from 4-7 p.m. in the 100 block of West Main. Santa’s reindeer will be on Main Street from 5-8 p.m. in the first block of West Main.

Boy Scouts offer a spaghetti dinner at the Meeting Place from 4-8 p.m.

Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School’s choir performs at 6 p.m. in front of the post office, 10 W. Main, and New Testament Church offers a drive-thru live Nativity from 6-8 p.m. at 752 W. Main.

The lighted parade goes from Washington to Main streets at 7 p.m., followed by a tree lighting in Miller Park.

Fountain City

Fountain City Forward is coordinating its Hometown Holiday Lighted Parade and Celebration.

The parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. at the Lions Club, 600 W. Main, and ends at Fountain City Park on U.S. 27, where Santa will arrive just before 6 p.m. for several activities.

At the park, attendees can make an ornament at an ornament station, and Northeastern High School’s choir will perform. Kids can drop their letters to Santa in a lighted box. Fifty cups of hot chocolate and cookies are available while supplies last.

At 6:15 p.m., Terry Wiesehan will offer remarks, followed by a dedication of the community Christmas tree and new wind phone.

Candy Jackson led the effort to add the wind phone to the park. Those who’ve lost a loved one can stop by anytime to let the wind carry their memories and messages through a phone “connected to nowhere and everywhere at once.”

In addition, volunteers will sell T-shirts and Old Newport Recipes cookbooks.

Centerville

Main Street Centerville, additional organizations and businesses are coordinating several Christmas in Centerville activities between 4-7 p.m. The finale of “A Hometown Christmas Celebration” is the 7 p.m. parade along Main Street.

At Maplewood Park, all are invited to take part in snowball fights (machine generated), enjoy a s’mores station and take photos at the decorated caboose. Santa and Mrs. Claus will participate in a tree-lighting ceremony. Those activities are a couple blocks north of U.S. 40 and Morton Avenue.

HELP the Animals is bringing adoptable dogs to pet, and donations are welcome.

Before the tree ceremony, families can visit Santa and Mrs. C in the historic log cabin in the 200 block of East Main. The cabin is adjacent to the Mansion House, where face painting, a soup dinner and a silent auction of decorated trees are planned.

Centerville churches are offering a warming center with free popcorn and water and will sell funnel cakes.

Sweetie By Lindsey will offer cupcake decorating next to The Village Forager, 624 E. Main St., where cocoa can be found.

Ornaments can be decorated at Lavender & Sage, 107 S. Morton Ave., and votes can be cast for gingerbread houses at Gillman Home Center, 7138 U.S. 40 E.

Richmond

Glen Miller Park will again be festive for the pedestrian-friendly Celebration of Lights from 6-9 p.m., which includes carriage rides, seasonal music, Santa and refreshments at 2200 E. Main St.

Volunteers are needed at 1:30 p.m. at the maintenance facility near the pond to set out luminarias or at 2 p.m. to prepare for the Rosemary Weigel Frostbite 5K at 5 p.m. All ages can participate in the race for $25.

To register as a volunteer, email bpanensky@richmondindiana.gov.