From PEMBERVILLE INDEPENDENT MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION and PEMBERVILLE-FREEDOM AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The spirit of Christmas comes alive this weekend when Pemberville hosts its annual Christmas in the Village on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 30 & Dec.1).
Festivities are scheduled from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m., followed by Pemberville’s Lighted Parade at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The downtown will feature Christmas dignitaries both days with Santa and Mrs. Claus handing out treats to the kiddos and posing for family pictures.
Guests should be on the lookout for the Grinch near the Henline Building that has the Home Town Realty’s Grinch window display by realtor Tammy Oberdick.
A few strides down Front Street, Riverbank Antiques will be the backdrop for Ebenezer Scrooge (aka Dan Baker) protagonist of Charles Dicken’s 1843 short novel, “A Christmas Carol.”
Families will be able to take holiday “Elf Selfies” at the “Beeker’s Bench” situated alongside Beeker’s General Store, one of Ohio’s oldest operating general stores. Located in the heart of downtown, Beeker’s is celebrating 148 years.
JM Designs and Downtown Deco also will offer other interactive photo opportunities for visitors.
Eastwood Key Club members will continue a tradition on Saturday by ringing the bell as part of the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.
Kids and kids-at-heart will enjoy browsing/shopping the Holiday Scholastic Book Fair set-up inside the new 222 Event Space located adjacent to The Gathering Place.
While Christmas music will fill the air as patrons stroll the streets, and everyone is invited to shop and stroll Front Street visiting locally owned businesses including The Country Cupboard, Front St. Café & Coffee, The Comfy Cactus Boutique, Behind the Pines, Belle Fleur, Beeker’s General Store, Vintage Christmas Market, Riverbank Antiques and The Tangled Tinsel Christmas Resale Shop. Hours vary per shop.
Festival of Trees celebrates ‘Year of Holidays’
Pemberville’s Opera House will be the setting for this year’s Festival of Trees with the theme “A Year of Holidays.” Each of the 14 trees will be decorated to carry out the holidays theme, depicting such holidays as National Pet Day, Veteran’s Day and National Button Day , just to name a few.
The Pemberville-Freedom Area Historical Society has hosted the annual event for 22 years as one of its major fundraisers. The Festival of Trees runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 30) and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 1). Admission is $5 per person, which children fee with a paid adult admission. Tickets are available at the door and include refreshments, a chance to vote for your favorite tree and entry into a raffle for a $100 Pemberville Independent Merchant Association gift card.
The historical society will also host its annual Holiday Bake Shoppe in the Town Hall featuring a variety of homemade treats such as candies, cookies, sweet breads and more. All proceeds benefit the society’s continued restoration/maintenance efforts.
Fourteen beautiful trees (Including National Pet Day, Veteran’s Day and National Button Day to include just a few of the Holidays) will fill the house. Admission is $5 per person (Children are free with a 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.
Additional tours offered
Pemberville’s oldest frame house will be decked out and open for free tours as well. Area decorators will adorn the Pember-Furry House and One Room School inside and out, reflecting the times of a simpler Christmas.
Lessons about old Christmas traditions and folklore will be taught in the One Room School, and sweet smells of the past will prevail in the old smokehouse and blacksmith shop out back. Guests will enjoy the demonstrating blacksmith who will create a variety of heirloom keepsakes.
Those wishing to savor the flavor of the historical society’s ever famous sausage, will be able to do so, with sausage on a stick being offered throughout the day along with kettle corn by Poppin George of Wood County.
Parade and tree lighting
This year’s parade promises to “Illuminate the Night.” Area high school marching bands, twirlers, floats, walking units, fire apparatus and more will participate in the lighted parade. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be the final unit as they wave from atop Pemberville-Freedom Fire Department’s ladder truck.
Pemberville’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will conclude Sunday’s festivities on the lawn of Mason Park. Eastwood Band instrumentalists will perform a number of holiday selections and lead a carol sing-along. All are invited to attend.
Additional information may be obtained by calling 419-287-3274.
