Christmas-themed events abound in communities around Stark County

The Repository
·12 min read
Santa Claus checks Lucy Molyneaux, 4, of Plain Township to see if she was good girl with his Rudolph nose along with her brother Madden Molyneaux, 8, at the 32nd annual Holly Pine Lane Christmas event at the Canton Garden Center in Stadium Park.
Santa Claus checks Lucy Molyneaux, 4, of Plain Township to see if she was good girl with his Rudolph nose along with her brother Madden Molyneaux, 8, at the 32nd annual Holly Pine Lane Christmas event at the Canton Garden Center in Stadium Park.

Here is a selection of Christmas-themed events around Stark County. Most of them include a visit from Santa Claus.

Alliance

Christmas in the Park will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Silver Park, 2930 S. Union Ave. The tree lighting will be at 5:30 p.m. The event will include food, make-and-take ornaments, giveaways, an ice sculptor and a train around the lake. Santa Claus will be in the new Robertson's Lodge for pictures.

Beach City

Christmas in the Village will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 3 in the community park. Plans are being finalized for the event.

Canal Fulton

Christmas on the Canal will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 3. The Electric Lights parade will start at 5:30 p.m., and the tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. Activities during the day include meeting with Santa at the library,  meet and greets with other characters in town, children’s ornament-making at the VFW from 1 to 3 p.m., and a mini Christmas tree competition. There will be ice carvers at various businesses throughout downtown.

Canton

  • The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 Monument Drive NW, will host the annual Holiday Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2. The event features a meet and greet with Santa, cookies, punch and holiday decorations throughout the museum. The event is free to members and $5 for nonmembers; registration is not required. The museum gift shop will also be open. Buy tickets at mckinleymuseum.org or at the door.

  • Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4705 Fairhaven Ave NW, will have a Breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. Dec. 3. Prices are children 10 and under $6; Adults $9; Breakfast with Santa includes pancakes, sausage, bagels, fruit, crafts, cookie decorating and photos with Santa. For more information and to buy tickets, call 330-494-8770 or visit https://htgocpastrysale.square.site/.

  • Light Up Downtown will be 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in downtown Canton. Fourteen city blocks will come alive with attractions, entertainment, refreshments and fun. Santa and live reindeer will be there. There will be a 6 p.m. stage show at Centennial Plaza followed by fireworks at 6:45. You can also enjoy entertainment at the Christmas tree in Central Plaza along with The Doubletree by Hilton hotel. For full details, event map and parking information, visit www.lightupdowntown.com.

Dalton

The Dalton Holidays Festival will be downtown Dec. 2-4. The event includes the crowning of Snow Princess, Queen, Little Jack Frost and Little Miss Snowflake, and presentation of Citizen of the Year Marie Septer and Grand Marshal Jennifer Ellenberger at Village Hall at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. A Downtown Business Open House will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 with food trucks. The Rotary Breakfast will be 7 to 10 a.m. Dec. 3 at Dalton Presbyterian Church. The Grand Parade will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 3. The Voice Studio will be at Dalton Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Other festival features Saturday and Sunday are Mrs. Claus’ Pantry, The Grinch, Festival Craft Show, Gingerbread House Contest display and 50/50 raffle. On Dec. 4, turkey bowling will be at 2 p.m., and 50/50 drawing will be at 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit Dalton Holidays Festival on Facebook or www.daltonholidayfestival.org.

Green

  • Christmas at Central Park will be 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at 1795 Steese Road. Santa will arrive at 5:30 p.m. The event will include the tree lighting, train rides, ice sculptures, musical performances and holiday crafters and food vendors. For more information, visit https://www.cityofgreen.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=1447.

  • Portage Lakes Career Center, 4401 Shriver Road, will be hosting its second annual Festival of Lights Holiday Challenge from Dec. 3 through 16. The staff and students have been challenged to use their creativity and talents to design, build and create holiday displays representing their programs. The displays will be set up and lit throughout the campus from 6 to 10 p.m. daily for public viewing. From 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15, there will be a public Family Fun Night event that will include costumed characters, caroling, a visit from Santa, and several fun stops through our campus where families will be able to drive through and grab a cup of hot chocolate, get a Christmas cookie, take home a bag of Magic Reindeer Food, or drop off their letters to Santa. For questions about Festival of Lights, call 330-896-8200.

Hartville

  • An Evening in the Village will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in downtown Hartville. The annual Christmas event includes wagon rides, children's crafts and activities, refreshments, a cookie contest, live music, open houses at downtown shops, and visits with Santa. The evening begins with Santa's arrival by firetruck and the tree lighting in the square. The tree will be designated a Remembrance Tree and memory ornaments can be made and added at the event. Attendees can also bid on silent auction baskets and trees to benefit Pegasus Farm’s Military Family Center, a local nonprofit that provides support and connection for veterans, active military, first responders, and their families. For more information, call 330-877-9650 or visit www.discoverhartville.com/downtown.

  • Hartville MarketPlace, 1289 Edison St. NW, will present Winterfest from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9. The free, family event will include horse-drawn carriage rides, ice carvings, treats, and pictures with Santa. For more information, visit hartvillemarketplace.com or call 330-877-9860.

  • Breakfast with Santa will be 8 to 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market, 1289 Edison St NW. For more information, visit https://hartvillemarketplace.com.

Jackson Township

  • The annual Holiday in the Park and Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held in The Dave Ruwadi Pavilion in North Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 10. Enjoy refreshments, caroling and the community tree lighting at 6:45 pm. Children will enjoy a visit from Santa Claus. Jackson North Park is at 7660 Fulton Drive NW, across from Jackson High School.

  • Santa Claus will be at Belden Village Mall to hear wish lists and pose for photos from Nov. 18 through Dec. 24. Santa's schedule is as follows: Nov. 18 to Dec. 11 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (break from 3 to 3:30 p.m. daily) Sunday. Dec. 12 to 23 – 11 a.m. to 8 pm. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (break from 3 to 3:30 p.m. daily) Sunday. And 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (break from 1 to 1:30 p.m.) Dec. 24. Book your reservation at https://amusemattebooksanta.com/belden-village/.

  • St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church, 4600 Fulton Drive NW, will be hosting Santa for breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 3. Enjoy pancakes, make crafts and take a picture with Santa. The community is invited, and admission is free, with the suggested donation of a new toy to be given to A Community Christmas.

Lake Township

Quail Hollow Park and the 40-room Stewart Manor House will be lit up for the holidays for the Deck the Hollow event that runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9 to 11 and Dec. 16 to 20. Advance reservation entry is $5 or $6 at the door and includes time to walk through the decorated trees and holiday lights on the property, a self-guided tour of the historic Manor House decorated for the season, and a stroll down Santa Lane to say hello to Santa Claus and take photos. The Quail’s Nest Gift Shop will be open, and concessions and snacks will be available to purchase. This is an indoor/outdoor event. Reservation times are available every 15 minutes. Pre-registration is preferred. Register at starkparks.com/deckthehollow. Stark Parks and the Quail Hollow Volunteer Association sponsor the lighted walk experience at the 700-acre Hartville-area park at 13480 Congress Lake Ave. NE.

Louisville

  • Light Up Louisville will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 4. The events will include businesses and organizations along Main Street from Paradise Church at 512 E. Main St. to the Louisville Eagles. Main Street will be closed from Chapel Street (state Route 44) to Paradise Church on East Main Street. At 5:45 p.m., Santa Claus will lead a parade, including the Louisville High School Marching Band, down Main Street from Paradise Church to the green space for the lighting of the Community Christmas tree at 6 p.m. For more information and a schedule of events, visit https://www.louisvilleohchamber.org/schedule/2022-light-up-louisville.

  • The Louisville Public Library, 700 Lincoln Ave., will host Santa Day from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10. Guests can see what Christmas looks like in different countries, listen to stories, and have a photo taken with Santa Claus. Registration is not required.

Massillon

  • The Massillon Public Library, 208 Lincoln Way E, will host Santa's Magical Christmas, the annual holiday children’s program, at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Main Library auditorium. Children can visit Santa at his workshop, listen to stories and have holiday fun. Registration is required; visit https://www.massillonlibrary.org/santas-magical-christmas-registration. For more information, contact the Children’s Department at 330-832-9831, ext. 317.

  • PBS Animal Health, 2780 Richville Dr. SE, will have a Winter Fest from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 10. Doors open for the store at 9 a.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be $10 per person. (Ages 5 and younger are free). Tickets will be sold in the store. Enjoy the food trucks, cookies and hot cocoa from local 4-H groups, and pictures with Santa for the whole family. Purchase tickets for the many raffle baskets that you can try to win, worth over $100 each. Find the elf on the shelf and get a gift. Be the 20th customer to purchase merchandise in the store and win a gift (this will be going on from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Minerva

  • North Market Street will be transformed into a Downtown Wonderland from 3 to 6 p.m. Dec. 3 with a variety of free Christmas treats, crafts, activities, music and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Christmas parade will step off at 3 p.m. from Minerva Elementary School, proceeding up Bonnieview, to Line Street, to North Market Street, and ending in the Minerva Schools bus garage parking lot. Santa and Mrs. Claus will come to town with the parade and will then hear Christmas wishes and pose for free pictures in the Haas Museum, 128 N. Market St. Treat trees sponsored by area businesses and organizations and loaded with goodies for children to take will line the street. The treat trees will be covered until after the parade and are intended for children only. Parents are asked to limit their children to one treat from each tree. The Minerva Community Band will play at 2:30 pm, the East Canton High School Choir will perform at 3:30 p.m., and the Minerva High School Choir at 4 p.m. Available at downtown locations will be refreshments, bowling, a take-your-own-photo booth, face painting and temporary Christmas tattoos at Minerva Perk, make-and-take ornaments, writing letters to Santa and a scavenger hunt. A map of all activities will be available the day of the event and on Facebook. A live Nativity will be located on High Street. Free raffle tickets will be distributed to children during the event, and one child will win a sled full of toys, as well as the opportunity to light the Christmas tree with Santa in Mayor’s Park at the corner of Main and West Line streets. The winning ticket will be drawn at 6 p.m., and the winner must be present. For more information, contact the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce, 330-868-7979 or denise.freeland@minervachamber.org.

  • Minerva’s third annual “Like Your Lights!” Drive-it-Yourself Christmas Lights Tour, is underway now from 6-9 each evening, and continues through Christmas. Participating homes are: 403 W McKinley Ave., 706 and 904 Elizabeth St., 307 W. High St., 505 and 507 Jackson St., 303 Wine St., 840 and 924 Lynnwood Dr., 506 East St., 1012 E. First St., 608 W. Line St., 505 Queen St., and 24716 Route 30, East Rochester. Everyone is invited to enjoy the displays of holiday lights and decorations at these homes and encouraged to roll down their windows and shout, “Like your lights!” for their favorites. A map will be published on the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page, or can be requested by calling 330-868-7979 or emailing denise.freeland@minervachamber.org.

North Canton

  • Winterfest will be 4 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 on the North Canton Square. Santa Claus will arrive on a firetruck, and the tree lighting will be around 6:15 p.m. There will be train rides, music, costumed characters, a holiday market and food trucks. Photos with Santa begin on the City Hall portico at about 6:30 p.m.

  • Christmas on Hoover Farm, 1875 East Maple St., will be Dec. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. At the free, family-friendly event, guests can take photos with Santa in the historic Hoover Tannery (bring your own camera), listen to musicians from Glen Oak High School while viewing the decorations throughout the Victorian farmhouse and museum, and take a horse-drawn wagon rides through beautiful Hoover Park.

Perry Township

Stark Parks, Stark Library-Perry Sippo Branch and the Perry Rotary Club will welcome Santa Claus to the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3. Guests can bring their cameras for a photo with Santa. Children can talk with Santa and visit with costumed characters, make holiday crafts to take home, enjoy music performances, and view holiday lights around the building. Food and drink concessions will be available for purchase. The tree lighting on the back patio will take place at 5 p.m. No registration required for the free event. Portions of the event are outdoors. The Exploration Gateway is a drop-off location for the Toys for Tots campaign. The Exploration Gateway is inside Sippo Lake Park- North Entrance, 5710-5712 12th St. NW.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Christmas-themed events abound in communities around Stark County