Busy Saturday for Christmas events around area

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

Santa Claus is going to be busy this weekend, as the jolly fat man will be making appearances Saturday in Brimfield, Elmwood and Farmington.

Yes, it’s Christmas Walk weekend across the area, with business and organizers decking the halls in three local communities. Here’s a look at the particulars for each.

• Farmington – The second WinterFest returns with activities from noon to 6 p.m. downtown after being sidelined last winter during the pandemic. The larger event replaces the traditional Santa Parade typically held in one evening.

“We’ve tried to turn it into more of a whole-town event, where we are having activities during the day and finish with a parade at night,” said Cassandra Anderson of SoVia Home & Creative Designs, who has helped organize WinterFest. “We’re just trying to make it more of an event for all ages and abilities.”

Activities will be focused in three areas: downtown centered around the greenspace, at the Fire Department, where Santa Claus will appear from 2-4 p.m. along with sheep (courtesy of local 4H students) and readings of Christmas books; and at the YMCA where M&K Inflatables will be featured. A horse-drawn carriage and wagon will move between the locations.

The greenspace will be home to contests for ugly sweaters, best gingerbread house and singing (five age groups). There will also be a DJ and live band Linzie Borden (from 1-2 p.m.). Sign up for the contests on Facebook, where you can also see a map and more details.

The parade starts at 5 p.m. and is followed by a tree lighting at Reed Park at 5:30.

• Brimfield – The Area Christmas Walk here is from 5-7 p.m. and features food, hot chocolate, wagon rides, deals at local businesses and more.

Hot chocolate is served by the fire pit near Village Hall. Santa Claus will be stationed at Rookie’s outdoor patio, while Sherman’s Pharmacy will have a holiday backdrop for family pictures and Burnzee’s has Santa’s mailbox and a cookie decorating station.

Children can join in a scavenger hunt through town and the Brimfield High School Student Council will also have activities at the Brimfield American Legion.

Barnyard Discoveries will have farm animals on display throughout the evening and the Brimfield Fire Department will offer food from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The evening wraps up with a community Christmas sing at 6:45 near Village Hall featuring the Brimfield High School Choir.

• Elmwood – This year’s theme is An Old Fashioned Christmas and will feature lighted luminaries lining the downtown streets.

Well before dusk, though, the movie “Polar Express” will be shown for free at The Palace Theatre at 2:30 p.m. courtesy of Country Financial agent David Vaughan.

Santa will visit Elm Haven Place and there will be free carriage rides around Central Park.

To make the city more festive, there is a home decorating contest underway. To enter, email a picture of your home to adavis.elmwoodil@ gmail.com by noon on Dec. 4.

Local artisans will take part in a pop-up shop behind Elmwood Insurance Services, 124 E. Main St., where shoppers can pick up a punch card to take to local businesses that will be open and offering refreshments. Those who fill out a punch card can enter a drawing for a $50 gift basket from Country Comfort.

A brass quartet will play at Morrison & Mary Wiley Library and the Elmwood Historical Society’s collection of dioramas made by Lorado Taft will be open for visitors at 102 E. Main St.