MADISON — Organizers behind the annual Madison Christmas Celebration are hoping for good weather this year after a number of events were canceled last year because of rain.
The celebration, scheduled for Saturday, includes a parade, fireworks, cookie decorating and other events, almost all of which are free and open to the public. A soup and sandwich dinner at the American Legion is the only event with a cost attached.
“It’s a fun family day,” said Kathy Lightbody, a member of the Madison Christmas Celebration Committee. “People can bring their kids out, and there are no fees for anyone.”
The celebration starts at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Christ Community Fellowship at 43 Maple St. The cost of the breakfast is a donation.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a craft fair at Maplecrest Nursing Home, and from 9 a.m. to noon, the Little Wonders Daycare on Weston Avenue will host an open house.
The Firehouse Bakery at 20 Pine St. will host cookie baking and decorating from noon to 4 p.m. The cookie baking and decorating was one of the most popular events at last year’s Christmas celebration, Lightbody said.
“They let you go in and make your own cookies, and then they bake them and you go home with fresh warm cookies,” she said.
Taylor’s Drug Store on Old Point Avenue will also serve hot chocolate and have crafts for kids from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available from the town office from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The only event with a cost attached is a homemade soup and sandwich dinner at the American Legion from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost of the dinner is five dollars. Everything else is sponsored by local businesses, Lightbody said.
Fireworks are scheduled for 5:15 p.m. and will be visible from the parking lot behind Renys.
The fireworks will be followed by a parade at 6 p.m. starting on Maple Street and ending at Madison Area Junior High School. After the parade Santa Claus will visit with children at the Madison Public Library. The day after the celebration Santaville will open in downtown Madison, Lightbody said, providing a spot for children to visit with Santa daily.
Santaville, which is run by Madison resident Stephen Foshay, is open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Dec. 23.
This is the fourth year the Christmas Celebration is being held. Lightbody said it has been well-attended every year although last year’s celebration was cut short by rain.
“There were things that had to be canceled,” she said. “It was pretty sad, but we still moved forward with the fireworks and the parade. They were short, but we’re looking forward to better weather, a longer parade and just as much fun.”
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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