Communities spread holiday cheer with annual Christmas events
The Highland County Press
Several area Christmas parades and celebrations are scheduled around the county for the next two weekends.
• The 34th annual Greenfield Eagles Christmas Parade will be 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Following the parade, the lighting of the courthouse was led by Operation Light Up City Hall.
The Christmas parade has been a popular event in Greenfield for many years, said Greenfield City Manager Ron Coffey. In 2012, the format was changed from an afternoon parade to an evening event and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
• The 2015 Hillsboro Uptown Business Association Christmas Parade (originally scheduled for Nov. 28) will be 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
The parade starts at the Highland County Fairgrounds and continues up West Main Street to North High Street, and wraps up on Catherine Street.
• The 27th annual Leesburg Luminaria is set for Sunday, Dec. 13. On Dec. 10, 1988, the first Luminaria night was held in the Friendly Village of Leesburg. Every year since, the Leesburg Lions Club has sponsored this tradition. The Leesburg community businesses, churches and villagers place candles in white bags to light the streets to welcome the Christmas season. Downtown businesses will host open houses, complete with plenty of goodies to enjoy, Santa will visit, a royal court will be crowned and the evening will end with a community service at the Fairfield School. Free wagon rides will be available.
Luminaria Candle Kits will be on sale at Square One Heating and Cooling, Friday, Dec. 11 from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The price of the kit is $8 (20 candles/20 bags). Sand is available if you bring your container.
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• The 23rd annual Lynchburg Village Christmas will be Friday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
This year, the Wee girls and friends will perform on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the corner of Main Street and Pearl Street (weather permitting) and will also perform for vendors and shoppers at the Firehouse at 2:15 p.m.
The Wee girls consist of Debra Grooms, Shea Powell and Crystal Reynolds, and the friends who are with them are Roberta Brannon and Judy Hall. The Wee girls made their first public performance at the 2012 Lynchburg Village Christmas. Since then, they have performed at many festivals, nursing homes, senior citizens centers and competitions.
As in years past, Southern Hills Community Bank in Lynchburg has generously donated a flat-screen TV to be raffled off in a free raffle. Shoppers can fill out one raffle ticket at each vendor at the Firehouse and also at each participating home and business.
• The annual Christmas in Marshall is scheduled for Dec. 5. The Marshall School Committee invites everyone to the 10th annual event from 4-8 p.m. at the Marshall School Gymnasium. Enjoy turkey and dressing, homemade noodles, mashed potatoes and
all the trimmings. A freewill donation will be accepted. A benefit auction begins at 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the preservation of the gymnasium.
• The 2015 Mowrystown Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 5. This year’s parade theme is “Peace on Earth.” The grand marshal will be Walter West.
The parade lineup starts at 11 a.m. at Crop Production Services. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. and ends at Whiteoak High School.