Staff Report

WARSAW — Christmas is getting closer, and there are plenty of local holiday events for those who can’t wait.

Here’s a list of area Christmas activities.

Akron

• The Akron Chamber of Commerce has its Annual Christmas Open House from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Akron Community Center. Santa will be present for photos. There will also be cookies and refreshments, games and prizes and a reindeer petting zoo. People should bring their own cameras for the photos with Santa.

Bourbon

• Santa will be at the Bourbon Fire Station, 216 N. Main St., from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, for visits with the kids. Children should bring their Christmas wish lists.

Etna Green

• The Etna Green Lions Club will sponsor Santa at the Heritage Park Building from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. Santa will arrive by fire truck.

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 Mentone Chamber of Commerce’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

• 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].
• Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, 1048 S. 325E, Pierceton, has a pictures with Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 11. It’s 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. People may bring their own pets in for photos with Santa or there will be pets provided. To get photos at no charge, people should bring a $10 donation for the AWL or a bag of puppy/kitty food. The Who Girls will also be present. Donations will go to the AWL’s Hope Fund.

Silver Lake

• Santa is to arrive in Silver Lake on Wednesday, Dec. 15. At 5:30 p.m., he will travel around town before coming to the old fire station, 104 N. Jefferson St. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served and goody bags will be given out to the kids.

Warsaw

• Parents can bring their kids to NAPA Auto Parts in Warsaw from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 11, for a visit with Santa. People are asked to bring nonperishable food items in exchange for the visits. Those will go to Combined Community Services of Warsaw. There will also be a few gifts provided for families in need at the event, so people may message their children’s wish list to NAPA of Warsaw’s Facebook page ahead of time for them to possibly get a gift from Santa at the event.
• “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.

South Whitley

• One Community of South Whitley presents Home for the Holidays 2021, on Friday, Dec. 10. The event is 5-7 p.m. Opening ceremonies will be at the old hardware at 5 p.m. with Santa arriving. Afterward until 7 p.m., there will be a Walk of Trees, a gingerbread house display, pictures with Santa, vendors and children’s activities at the hardware. There will also be children’s activities and vendors until 7 p.m. at the former Brownstone restaurant and the Schultz Center.
• People in South Whitley may also enter the town’s Christmas light contest. Judging for it is on Sunday, Dec. 12. People just need to have their houses decorated to be considered entered in the contest. Prizes are $100 for first, $60 for second and $40 for third.

Syracuse

• New Hope Pet Rescue, 72555 CR 29, Syracuse, has the PAWS-itively Wonderful Christmas Carnival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. The event includes Santa, crafts, refreshments, shopping and outdoor games for kids.