Plenty Of Christmas Events Upcoming In County
Staff Report
WARSAW — ‘Tis the season for Christmas events in the area.
Here’s a list of area holiday activities.
Leesburg
- Leesburg’s annual candelaria is 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. Boy Scout Troop 729 and the Leesburg Mighty Farmers 4-H Club will help light candles in paper bags around town. The public may view them on foot or by car. A Christmas party will also be during that time in the old firehouse behind the town hall with hot chocolate, cookies and live music. Santa will arrive at 6 p.m. for visits with the kids.
Mentone
- The Bell Aircraft Museum and Mentone Chamber of Commerce have a Christmas Open House from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Mentone Fire Department. There will be a Christmas tree decorating contest, silent auction and craft show. Santa will also be present for visits with the kids starting at 10 a.m. and there will be cookies and cider.
- The Chamber’s Christmas decorating contest sponsored by King Memorial Home has started. Anyone is welcome to decorate their house in town for the contest. Houses are considered entered in the contest just for being decorated. Winners will be announced Thursday, Dec. 23. Prizes are $200 for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third.
Pierceton
- The Pierceton Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a holiday primitive and antique show from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Pierceton Elementary School. During the event at 11 a.m., Kerry Hippensteel will instruct visitors on how to decorate with greenery. Refreshments will also be available sponsored by the Chamber.
- Light Up Our Town is Saturday, Dec. 4, in Pierceton. Lineup for the Christmas parade is at 4:45 p.m. at Pierceton’s baseball park. The parade starts at 5 p.m. It will run from Seventh Street to Market Street to Brower Park. Once there, hot chocolate will be served and there will be a light-up ceremony with the new decorations the town’s Christmas light committee has helped get.
- A Letters to Santa box is set up at the Pierceton and Washington Township Library. Kids are welcome to put a letter in the box through Friday, Dec. 10, and get a response back from him. Children are to use forms that were passed out at Pierceton Elementary School. Forms may also be found in the Pierceton Town Office or by emailing [email protected].
Syracuse
- Breakfast with Santa will be from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Syracuse Community Center, 1013 Long Drive. The breakfast features pancakes and sausage, and milk and cookies will be served by the Boy Scouts. There will be Christmas crafts and photos with Santa. The Wawasee High School Band will perform from 9-10 a.m. The cost is $4 for adults and free for children.
Warsaw
- Hometown Holly Days is the theme of December’s First Friday on Friday, Dec. 3. From 5-9 p.m. carriage rides will be offered downtown. Santa’s house will also be open downtown for visits during that time. From 5 p.m. until supplies run out, at Latte Lounge, 108 N. Buffalo St. kids can do an ornament make-it, take it craft. At 5:30 p.m. local artist Marc Eckel is to complete a Little Drummer Boy-themed art piece through a Splat Experience performance. It only lasts about five minutes, so attendees should be sure to be at the Kosciusko County Courthouse’s cannon plaza at that time in order to not miss it. The Twinkle Light Parade is at 6 p.m. and to travel from Center Street to Indiana Street then to Central Park and back around. Following the end of the parade, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church of Warsaw is to present the reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s Christmastime journey in the courthouse square.
- Light Up the Night is 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at Central Park with the annual light display to be lit. Santa will be walking around the park for interactions with kids starting at 6 p.m. The first 500 kids at the park will receive glow necklaces and a goody bag with crafts, coloring pages and more.
- “A Country Christmas With Susie McEntire” is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Lakeview Middle School, 848 E. Smith St. Singer Susie McEntire will be joined by Linda Davis and Keenie Word Moore. The concert, with doors opening at 6 p.m., is free, but attendees are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
- Toy Time starts Monday, Dec. 13, at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds’ Home & Family Arts Building. Used toys and children’s items may be brought to the building 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 13-Thursday, Dec. 16. Items will be sold with those who brought the items to consign receiving 50% of the sale and the rest going to buy new toys for children in need. Dates of the sale, which the public is welcome to come to and is also at the Home & Family Arts Building, are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19.
Winona Lake
- Winona Lake Limitless Park has KringleFest 1-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Winona Lake Community Center, 1590 Park Ave. There will be photos with Santa, face painting, a petting farm and crafts. Children can also shop for $2 gifts for loved ones in the Holiday Shoppe.
- The Village at Winona has its drive-thru tree lighting ceremony from 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. A map of the route to follow may be found be clicking here. People are asked to bring new unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots, which may be dropped off between Green Earth Multisport and Rocket Fizz. Hot chocolate will also be available at that spot. Carolers will also be in the Village from 4:30-6 p.m. that day.
- Children can send their wish lists to Santa via letters. People should use forms, which may be found by clicking here or outside Winona Lake Town Hall or the park office. Letters are to be dropped off by 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 6, to receive a response from the Jolly Old Elf. They may be put in the special mailbox outside town hall 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.The completed forms may also be mailed to: Santa Claus C/O Town of Winona Lake, Winona Lake Limitless Park, 1590 Park Ave., P.O. Box 338, Winona Lake, IN 46590. Those who are unable to pick up or print off the forms should draft their own letters following the instructions included in the forms’ link above. People should also include their return address with the letters.