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Here are some area holiday events:
Christmas Lights Parade & Celebration
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.
Where: Greenfield courthouse plaza, 9 E. Main St.
Cost: Free.
Contact: For more information, visit the website www.greenfieldchristmasfest.com.
Celebrate Christmas Open House
Breakfast With Santa
When: 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Where: American Legion, 275 Center St., Greenfield.
Cost: $10, available at Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Christmas trees, glittering lights, reindeer figures, visits from Santa and shopping sprees have become part of life in Hancock County and on Indianapolis’ Eastside in preparation for the holidays.
The annual Greenfield Christmas Lights Parade and Celebration starts Friday with a festival at the downtown courthouse plaza. Even in cold weather, about 2,500 people typically attend the mostly outdoor event, said Brian Mason, co-chairman of the festival.
This year’s theme is A Storybook Christmas.
The festival from 5 to 9 p.m. includes a dozen vendors selling goods in a heated tent; downtown shops and restaurants open late for business; horse and carriage rides; and a performance on the plaza by the Greenfield Community Choir.
The city’s Christmas tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m., and a live Nativity scene will capture people’s attentions at that time, Mason said.
In a parade at 7 p.m., participants in holiday outfits will march from Depot Street to Riley Street, U.S. 40 and American Legion Place, where the parade will end with Santa arriving at the Kiwanis Santa House along the courthouse plaza, according to a news release from Greenfield Main Street. The group has organized the event for the past two years.
“We are hoping to have 25 entries,” Mason said. “Businesses and special organizations are putting together floats, and we also will have the marching band from Greenfield-Central High School.”
The grand marshals of the parade will be 1996 Olympic gymnastics team gold medalist Jaycie Phelps and the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, the news release said.
The festival will conclude with a Christmas variety show indoors at Greenfield Christian Church, 23 N. East St.
“The festival is meant to bring the community together to celebrate Christmas,” Mason said. “It was started by downtown merchants wanting to do an official lighting of the Christmas tree, so they organized a parade.
“From there, other things were added on, like a Christmas show, a dinner, and last year we added vendor booth tents and strolling entertainment.”
The festivities have grown into a weeklong celebration with a variety of events, including holiday plays, musical performances and movies. For a schedule of events or more details about the festival, log on to www.greenfieldchristmasfest.com.
A new event is Breakfast With Santa at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion, 275 Center St. For $10 per person, families will spend the morning with Santa, Mrs. Claus and other characters loved by children, including Cinderella, Snow White and Belle, according to the news release.
“We expand (the celebration) every year, and we felt like we needed an additional event, so we started this,” Mason said. “Sometimes it gets too cold or too late for young kids to stay for the Christmas parade, so we wanted to have something in the morning that is indoors and easier for them.”
The price includes a breakfast buffet. Tickets can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Friday at the Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce, One Courthouse Plaza.
“(The breakfast) helps raise money for Greenfield Main Street,” Mason said, “which gives grants to local businesses to help economic development and restorations, and promotes downtown Greenfield to visitors.”
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