The celebration begins Friday,Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. with an evening of family-friendly fun that includes:
Lighting the community Christmas tree, with remarks at 6:30 p.m. at the main stage on South Sandusky Street in front of City Hall. First Friday is sponsored by Willow Brook Christian Communities. The tree lighting ceremony is sponsored by Masonic Lodge No. 18, Delaware Pediatric Dentistry, Pathways Financial Credit Union, COhatch, and First Commonwealth Bank, with in-kind support from Buckeye Power Sales.
Carolers and live musical performances at the main stage from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Free iceless “glice” skating from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in a new location this year – behind the Delaware Welcome Center (20 E. William Street), sponsored by Snappy’s Automotive and The Mason Foundation.
Horse-drawn carriage rides boarding outside HQ, 1 W. Winter St. (Cost is $2 per person and free for children 6 and under.) Carriage rides also will be available from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 12 and Dec. 19, sponsored by Automotive and Performance Delaware.
Walk-in visits with Santa from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. inside the Main Street Delaware Welcome Center, 20 E. William St. (Meeting Santa is free, and includes one professional photo print and digital copy from For His Glory Photography. Additional prints, if desired, will be $5 each.) Santa will be at the center on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 20. Reservations are required for most times. For a list of Santa House times and to reserve space, visit www.mainstreetdelaware.com/christmas-in-downtown. Santa visits are sponsored by Hiram Masonic Lodge No. 18 and Willow Brook Christian Communities.
Downtown shopping and store specials throughout the “Home for the Holidays” weekend, Dec. 5-7.
“Home for the Holidays” continues Saturday,Dec. 6, with another day of fun events, including:
The annual “Dash for Dasher” scavenger hunt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow clues to help Santa find Dasher the Reindeer while completing crafts and other fun activities. (Begin the hunt at Fresh Start Cafe & Bakery, 24 N. Sandusky St., which will provide the first clue.) There’s no cost to participate in “Dash for Dasher,” but boxes of cereal and monetary donations will be accepted to benefit local food pantries. Dash for Dasher is sponsored by the Delaware County District Library, Ohio Hearing & Audiology + AudioNova, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Visits with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Main Street Delaware Welcome Center. Walk-ins are welcome from 11 a.m. to noon. Appointments are required between noon and 3 p.m. via www.mainstreetdelaware.com/christmas-in-downtown.
Free “glice” skating behind the Delaware Welcome Center. Those age 10 and under are invited to learn to skate with the Westerville Warcats hockey teams from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Skating for all ages will be open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Main Street Delaware’s second annual Great Gingerbread Build-Off at COhatch, 18 E. William St. Registration of $25 will include a basic gingerbread house kit; registrants are welcome to bring glitter, sprinkles, icing, props, and other add-ons. Registrants are asked to bring their own base no larger than 20″x20″ to build on. COhatch will open at 3:30 p.m., and the competition will begin at 4 p.m. Judging and community voting will begin at 7:15 p.m., with each vote cast by tickets available for purchase for $1 each. We'll award the People’s Choice based on which entry receives the most tickets. All donations will support Main Street Delaware, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization creating a vibrant downtown experience for all! A panel of judges will award ribbons to first, second, and third places. We encourage creativity, so come ready to showcase your gingerbread skills! The Great Gingerbread Build-Off is sponsored by Consolidated Cooperative, COhatch, Stephen Harless Mortgage Lender, The Modern Maid, Lori Detter Weichert Realtor, and TTM Mechanical.
On Sunday,Dec. 7, “Home for the Holidays” features Main Street Delaware’s annual Christmas Parade. WSYX-ABC 6 journalist Tom Bosco will serve as master of ceremonies, announcing each parade entry. This year’s grand marshal is Heidi Kegley, former superintendent of Delaware City Schools, and the parade theme is “Light the Night”! The parade will kick off from Mingo Park at 6 p.m. Sunday and travel south through the downtown to Wilmer Street. The Christmas Parade is sponsored by Modern Woodmen – The Denney Agency.
Before the parade, free “glice” skating will be available for all ages from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. behind the Delaware Welcome Center. In addition, the Richard M. Ross Art Museum, 60 S. Sandusky St., will be open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with guests able to create make-and-take egg carton penguin families. The craft is free and open to all ages.
