(Submitted by Pemberville)
Hometown holiday hospitality will prevail as Pemberville hosts its annual Christmas in the Village, Saturday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 25. Festivities are scheduled from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Pemberville’s sixth annual Lighted Christmas Parade will be the grand finale event, stepping-off Sunday night at 6:30.
Following the parade will be the village Christmas Tree Lighting at Mason Park with Santa Claus. Pemberville’s annual celebration will coincide with this year’s “National Shop Small” Promotion. Pemberville has an array of “small businesses” that exemplify this endeavor of buying local.
Pemberville’s historic Opera House will be the setting for this year’s Festival of Trees entitled “Christmas Around the World.” This year’s theme will be depicted by fourteen decorators, with each tree showcasing decorations inspired by the theme. Again this year, there will be a beautiful display of tablescapes decorated for the season. This year’s tablescapes will be creatively displayed with local musicians performing holiday selections. Admission is $5 per person (children are free with paid adult admission) with proceeds benefiting the Pemberville-Freedom Area Historical Society. Tickets for this annual fundraiser are available at the door and include complimentary refreshments, the chance to “vote” for your favorite tree and be entered in the Grand Prize drawing for 2019 Opera House season tickets.
The Historical Society will also host its annual Holiday “Sweet Shoppe” in the Town Hall featuring a variety of homemade baked goods including cookies, pies, sweet breads, candies, jams/jellies and more. All proceeds benefit the Historical Society’s continued restoration/maintenance efforts.
For our youngest friends, Santa Claus will be strolling through Downtown Pemberville, greeting guests, posing for photo opportunities and listening to wishes. A Scholastic Book Fair will be set-up at the Henline Building for guests to continue their holiday shopping. Everyday and seasonal book selections will be available for preschool through teen audiences. The gift of
reading is always sure to please.
Bowling Green youth, Evie Van Vorhis will delight with holiday carols at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at Higher Ground Café.
The village’s oldest frame house will be decked out with festive Christmas decorations with an emphasis on our German heritage and will be open for free tours both days. Hosts and hostesses will guide you through this historical home and be available to answer questions. They will also be baking Lebkuchen on Saturday and Springerle on Sunday for guests to sample.
Sweet smells and sounds of the past will prevail both in the old smokehouse and blacksmith shop out back. Guests will enjoy the blacksmith shop featuring a variety of heirloom keepsakes. Those wishing to savor the flavor of the Historical Society’s ever famous smoked sausage will be able to do so, with sausage on a stick being offered for a nominal fee throughout the day.
A variety of holiday carols will be heard in the Downtown area. Poppin’ George’s Kettle Corn will be featured at Beeker’s Store. Pemberville’s eateries and quaint shops will be open and offering a variety of “holiday specials” both days (open before and after the parade.)
An artisan outdoor German Christkindlmarkt will be taking place both days, streetside along Beeker’s General Store. A variety of items; edible, decorative, and unique for gift giving, will be available for purchase from local vendors. A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt (literally: Baby Jesus Market) is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent. These markets originated in Germany.
Traditionally held in the town square, the market has food, drink (we will be serving mulled cider and warm apple fritters) and seasonal items from open-air stalls accompanied by traditional singing and dancing. Popular attractions at the markets include the Nativity Scene (a crèche or crib), Zwetschgenmännle (figures made of decorated dried plums), Nussknacker (carved Nutcrackers), Gebrannte Mandeln (candied, toasted almonds), traditional Christmas cookies such as Lebkuchen and Magenbrot (both forms of soft gingerbread), Bratwurst, and for many visitors one of the highlights of the market: Glühwein, hot mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy), or Eierpunsch (an egg-based warm alcoholic drink). Both help stave off the cold winter air which sometimes dips below freezing. More regional food specialties include Christstollen, a sort of bread with candied fruit in Saxony, and hot Apfelwein and Frankfurter Bethmännchen in Hesse.
Beeker’s General Store and Riverbank Antique Market will be hosting their Holiday Open House featuring a variety of vintage Christmas collectibles and keepsakes. Higher Ground Coffee Shop will be offering featured artwork.
Complimentary horse & wagon rides will be offered both days thanks to Otterbein Portage Valley, The Pemberville Free Fair and North Branch Nursery. Rides will depart from the downtown area near Riverbank Antiques on Saturday from 12-3 p.m. and again on Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Sunday’s Lighted Parade will step off at 6:30 p.m. beginning at the Pemberville Public Library (registration headquarters) and ending at Pemberville’s Town Hall. Pemberville’s East Front Street will serve as the parade route with the viewing stand being located in the heart of the Downtown area. Lighted floats, vehicles, bands, marching units and more will all be a part of this year’s parade.
Additional information/specific times may be obtained by calling 419-287-3274. Following the parade, a backdrop of holiday favorites for a sing-along leading up to the village Christmas Tree Lighting at Mason Park with Santa Claus will take place.
For more information, please call 419-287-3274.
