Christmas will come to life in Pemberville this weekend (Nov. 29-30) as the village hosts its annual “Christmas in the Village.”
Hours for the weekend of activities are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Pemberville’s lighted parade, which steps off on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., features the Eastwood High School marching bands, twirlers, floats, walking units, Shrine clowns, high-wheel bike riders, fire apparatus, and more. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be atop the Pemberville-Freedom Fire Department’s ladder truck as the final unit in the parade.
Pemberville’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will conclude Sunday’s festivities on the lawn of Mason Park. Eastwood Band instrumentalists will perform holiday selections and lead a carol sing. All are invited to attend.
Christmas “dignitaries” will be on hand both days for conversation and photo opportunities. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be handing out treats to the kids and posing for family photos.
Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras to enjoy interactive photo opportunities, compliments of JM Designs and Downtown Deco, fine floral design.
Riverbank Antiques, 140 E. Front St., will be the backdrop for Ebenezer Scrooge (Dan Baker), protagonist of Charles Dickens’ 1843 short novel, “A Christmas Carol.”
Also, families will be able to take holiday “Elf Selfies” at the Beeker’s Bench situated alongside Beeker’s General Store, which at 149 years old is one of Ohio’s oldest operating general stores.
Eastwood Key Club members will continue an old tradition on Saturday by ringing the bell to benefit the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.
Guests will be able to stroll along Front Street, listen to Christmas music fill the air, and shop at the locally owned businesses, including: The Country Cupboard, Front St. Café, The Comfy Cactus Boutique, Behind the Pines, Beeker’s General Store, The Vintage Christmas Market, Riverbank Antiques, The Greenery by Downtown Deco, Country Cupboard’s Closeout Store and The Tangled Tinsel Christmas Resale Shop. Hours vary per shop.
Festival of Trees returns
The 24th Annual Festival of Trees will be displayed in the Pemberville Opera House on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Fourteen trees will be decorated by local amateur decorators using the theme, “A Picture-Perfect Christmas.” Each tree includes a picture that defines the theme of the decoration. The pictures are canvas, cross stitch, photos or posters.
Admission is $5 per person. Children are free with a paid adult admission. Tickets are available at the door and include complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to vote for your favorite decorated tree. Proceeds benefit the Pemberville-Freedom Area Historical Society.
The historical society will also hold its annual Holiday Bake Sale in the Town Hall offering a variety of homemade treats, including candies, cookies, sweet breads and more. In keeping with Pemberville’s German heritage, the bake sale will include Springerle (Anise) cookies for sale, a long-standing tradition. All proceeds benefit the society’s continued restoration and maintenance efforts.
The Pember-Furry House, Pemberville’s oldest frame house that is nestled along East Front Street, will be decked out and open for free tours during the event hours. Four local Eastwood High School students decorated the house for the holiday. (See related story).
The One-Room School will be open during the event hours. The schoolhouse will be decorated inside and out, reflecting the times of a simpler Christmas.
Smells of the past will prevail both in the old smokehouse and blacksmith shop out back. The blacksmith will demonstrate his trade and create heirloom pieces. Those wishing to savor the flavor of the historical society’s popular sausage-on-a-stick, will be able to do so, along with kettle corn by Wood County’s Poppin’ George, available in Pemberville’s downtown.
On Sunday, Bo Be Cakes will offer warm, frosted cake bites from 1 p.m. until parade time. The food truck will be located on Eisenhour’s corner lot.
Patterson’s The Hope Express will offer train rides (Cherry Street) for all ages for a nominal fee on Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m.
Sonfire by the River, 222 E. Front St. on the lower level, will offer holiday music selections and a sing-along Sunday from 4:30– 6 p.m., prior to the lighted parade.
Additional information or specific times may be obtained by calling 419-287-3274.
