Storybook Christmas spirit

ZANESVILLE − Christmas in Zanesville has been growing steadily over the years, with new events being added every year. It has grown from being centered on the lights adorning the Muskingum County Courthouse to a downtown-wide event, said Kelly Ashby, vice president of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce.

"Now we have a parade, now we have a 5K run/walk, now we have tons of businesses decorating windows. It is absolutely incredible this year," she said.

Angel Mac is behind a lot of those windows. Inspired by the Christmas displays Clarence Goss put in the picture windows of Goss Supply, she has been decorating downtown windows since mid-November. Visitors can tour the windows all through the holiday season, either on their own or as part of one of the various events going on this holiday season.

Decorating the large picture windows of Nutrition 740 at the corner of Market and Fourth streets are two wintery scenes. One includes figurines from an original Goss display, restored with new fiberglass bodies. Mac and her colleague Debbie McLoughlin also created a more modern display featuring white Christmas trees.

The Chamber and Visit Zanesville have adopted a theme over the years, Storybook Christmas. That helps businesses participate in different ways, and leaves room to change things every year, Ashby said. The theme has spread, with events going on across the county, including Dresden and New Concord. Traditions and connections are being made, she said.

Ashby said Visit Zanesville and the city are hoping to draw not just residents, but visitors from across the region. The chamber has been advertising area Christmas events far and wide. "With so many events, this is a destination for the holiday season," she said.

A new addition to the Storybook Christmas is a performance of "A Seussified Christmas Carol" at Secrest Auditorium on Sunday, Dec. 11. A production of The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati, the event is free to the public, and children in attendance will receive a free book thanks to a partnership with Visit Zanesville, Friends of Secrest and the Muskingum County Library System.

The Storybook Christmas parade still includes the lighting of the Muskingum County Courthouse, but also allows businesses outside the city center to take part in downtown Christmas celebrations, Ashby said, by entering a float in the parade. This year's parade is the second, and is expected to build on last year's massive participation. Santa will arrive during the parade, and take up residence at the Santa House near Secrest Auditorium to hear children's Christmas wishes.

With so many local businesses taking part − from helping decorate, like Mac's windows and Nelson's Seasonal Decor, who made the Muskingum County Library's unique ornament tree, to the Lemon Light Show on Linden Avenue − Christmas is growing tradition and partnerships, Ashby said. "It is really awesome how everybody comes together and makes it a festive holiday season for everyone," she said.

For more information on holiday events in Muskingum County, visit www.visitzanesville.com.

ccrook@gannett.com

740-868-3708

@crookphoto

Downtown activities include

NutcrackerNov. 27, 2-3 pmSecrest Auditorium

Holiday Trail of LightsNov. 30-Jan. 1Zane Landing Park

Muskingum County Courthouse Holiday Music and Light ShowSunday-Thursday, Nov. 30-Jan 2, 5-9 pmMain Street

A Storybook Christmas ParadeNov. 30, 6-7 pmDowntown Zanesville

Visit Santa In His HouseThursday-Friday, Nov. 30-Dec. 25, 7:15-8:30 pmSecrest Auditorium

Snowman Trail Scavenger HuntNov. 30-Jan. 1Downtown Zanesville & Putnam Historic DistrictSearch for 7 life-size snowmen. Email their locations to jchurch@zmchamber.com

Festival of Trees AuctionDec. 2, 9 am to 6 pmZanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of CommerceLive auction of nearly 200 festival entries. Call 740-450-1990 to bid. Proceeds benefit the chamber. Auction schedule will be posted at www.zmchamber.com the week of the event.

Santa Tells the StoryDec. 2, 6-9 pmCentral Trinity United Methodist Church62 S Seventh StWalk through the birth of Christ with Santa.

5K RunDec. 3, 5 to 6 pmDowntown ZanesvilleInfo: Storybook Christmas 5k (runsignup.com)

Angel Tree BenefitDec. 8-11The Renner, Home of the Zane Trace Players, 148 N Seventh St8 p.m. Dec. 8-19; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11. The proceeds benefit the Zanesville Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project. Info: https://www.therenner.org/

Christmas Movies Dec. 9, 5 to 9 pmSecrest AuditoriumFree 30-minute classic holiday movies

A Seussified Christmas CarolDec. 11, 2-3pmSecrest Auditorium

Handel’s Messiah OratorioDec. 11, 6-7 pmCentral Trinity United Methodist Church, 62 S Seventh St

Christmas Movies Dec. 16, 5-9 pmSecrest AuditoriumFree 30-minute classic holiday movies

Silver Bells & Diamonds ConcertDec. 17, 7:30-8:30 pmSecrest AuditoriumInfo: www.zanesvilleconcertassociation.org 740-588-0871

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Storybook Christmas spirit