Santa’s 10th reindeer, Candy Cane, made an appearance at 2011’s Syracuse Holiday Magic from Animal-Grams, North Manchester, to visit with all the area children including Morgann Yotter. Holding the reindeer’s lead is Jentri Cripe. (Photo by Rebekah Whirledge)

Get into the holiday spirit by attending the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce’s annual Syracuse Holiday Magic event, which will be held from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17.

Festivities will start at Lakeland Youth Center at the corner of SR 13 and Chicago Street. There, visitors will be able to enjoy creating a gingerbread house craft or taking a sleigh ride, which are $1 per individual or $5 per family. Activities at this location will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Then from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. activities will move to the Veteran’s Memorial at Crosson Mill Park. There will be music, dancing, sleigh rides, free cookies and hot cocoa, live reindeer, which are sponsored by Interra Credit Union, and more. The Vineyard Community Church will also be handing out free coffee.

At the park, children will be able to meet Santa Claus, who will be passing out candy canes. The town’s Christmas tree will also be lit around 6 p.m. or 6:15 p.m.

InClognito, a clogging group from the area, will be one of the acts at Crosson Mill Park, in addition to Syracuse Elementary School fifth-grade special choir, which is directed by Kris Stump.

New this year will be the Holiday Magic Market, which has been added by the Syracuse Parks Department. The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Syracuse Community Center. Many of the vendors from the Syracuse Artisans and Farmers Market will be on hand for holiday shopping indoors.

Visitors can expect to see artisan crafts, jewelry, sewing projects and baked goods.

A local musician, Ivory West, will be performing at the Holiday Magic Market. Concessions will also be present.

For information about Syracuse Holiday Magic, call the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce at (574) 457-5637. For information on the market, contact the Syracuse Parks Department at (574) 457-3440.