What’s Happening on Main Street – December 2017

Recurring Events

• Dicken’s Victorian Village – Cambridge

  Take a trip back in time and experience old world England as historic downtown Cambridge, Ohio, is charmingly transformed into a Dickens Victorian Village each holiday season. From November through mid January each year, visitors are invited to stroll amidst over 92 scenes of 166 lifelike figures representing classic scenes from Victorian society.
  This innovative public art exhibition is enjoyed by families, couples, and groups alike – an experience that engages the senses as you explore the charming streetscape, striking historic architecture, and eclectic shops and eateries of Cambridge.

• Take a Hike – Cleveland
  

  Take a Hike offers five (FREE!) guided walking tours of distinct neighborhoods in downtown Cleveland! Weekly tours explore the Gateway District, Warehouse District, Civic Center, Playhouse Square neighborhood and Canal Basin Park in the Flats. Each tour lasts approximately one and a half hours in length, and features actors and actresses portraying historic figures from Cleveland’s past. Check the website for the full schedule of tours.

• North Pole Express – Lebanon

  The LM&M Railroad will have our station area decorated with lights for the Christmas season. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available on the platform while you wait for your train and are included with your ticket. Each passenger will receive one cookie that is peanut free, egg free, tree nut free, and dairy free. Every passenger will receive a FREE souvenir hot chocolate mug. Each child will receive a special “North Pole Express” souvenir train ticket.
  During the hour long journey Santa and his elves will make their way through the train to visit with each family. Every child will receive a bell from Santa’s sleigh. We encourage you to bring your own camera, pictures with Santa are allowed and encouraged. Balloon artists will also be on-board the train.
   

December 1

• First Friday: Home for the Holidays – Delaware
  

  Kick off the holiday season with an entire weekend of celebrations! Welcome to “Home for the Holidays,” a Christmas wonderland brought to you by Main Street Delaware. Join other families and feel the sense of love and community all night with live reindeer, carolers, free carriage rides, ice skating, a magnificent tree light, and a special visit from Santa and the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan! All of these elements create wonderful Christmas memories for families.

• First Friday: A Christmas Night – Greenville
  

  Head to downtown Greenville for a magical night of Christmas cheer.
  

• First Friday: Moonlight Madness – Marietta
  

  First Fridays feature special shopping hours where downtown businesses are open late from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. so our community can shop local in Downtown Marietta!

• First Friday: Merry Moonlight Madness Sale – Middletown
  

  It’s the most magical time of the year here in Downtown Middletown! Join us for First Friday Festive Fun with family friendly activities including a tree lighting ceremony, Letters to Santa, choirs and carolers and more! And of course, all your favorite downtown shops will be open late so be sure to join us for the Third Annual First Friday:Merry Moonlight Madness Sale in Downtown Middletown! Get up to 40% off your ENTIRE purchase at participating locations when you draw a “snowball” at checkout!

• Christmas on the Green – Piqua
  

  Community caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, strolling characters, children’s activities and live entertainment make this family-oriented holiday celebration a “must do” on many calendars. Stop in and visit downtown Piqua’s many stores to choose the perfect gift for your loved one.

• First Friday: Downtown Tree Lighting – Tipp City
  

  Come one come all to our Community Tree Lighting in Downtown Tipp City! We will be counting down and lighting our donated tree at the corner of North 3rd and Main Street! Join us for free hot chocolate and cookies, the community band, Santa and Mrs. Claus riding in on a fire truck followed by take your own pictures, a short presentation and then the big count down! We will gather in the greenspace of Zion Lutheran Church at 6pm and kick off from there!

• A Very Merry Main Street Christmas – Van Wert
  

  Join Main Street Van Wert for a Very Merry Main Street Christmas thanks to Central Insurance Companies at Fountain Park in Downtown Van Wert. Truly Divine will provide Christmas Treats and Hot Chocolate, Music from Weston Thompson and Santa Claus will be joining us to light up the park at 6PM.

• Downtown Churches Walking Tour – Wooster
  

  Main Street Wooster and the city’s downtown churches invite you to take a moment to enjoy a quiet tour of historic church structures. Music, decorations and refreshments can be enjoyed during this free annual self-guided tour.

December 2

• Steeple Walk – Cambridge
  

  All are welcome to the downtown Cambridge Steeple Walk. See the beauty, architecture and grandeur of Cambridge’s homes of worship. The doors of each church will be open for a self guided tour and a member of the congregation will be available to answer questions. All churches are located near Steubenville Avenue.  This tour is FREE.

• Holiday Open House – Delaware
  

  Join us for the fifth annual Main Street Delaware Holiday Open House. Main Street Delaware’s annual Holiday Open House features specials and free community events for all! Come downtown and enjoy our local shops, see Santa in his home away from the North Pole, and much more. Stores will be open their regular business hours all day Saturday.

• Dash for Dancer – Delaware
  

  Oh, no! Santa has lost Dasher the reindeer! Explore downtown, following Santa’s clues to find him and have fun along the way. Along the way, you’ll gather reindeer treats, make crafts, and even see a hidden space or two within our downtown. Begin your hunt at the Main Street Delaware office at 20 E. Winter St. Stop by anytime between 11 am – 1 pm to pick up your first clue.
  This family-friendly downtown scavenger hunt is free of charge so all families are able to participate and make memories in downtown. However, Main Street Delaware is also accepting voluntary donations to help fund Christmas downtown or boxes of cereal to donate to local food banks.
  Don’t forget to stop by the Santa House, located at Strand Theatre, to tell Santa you’ve found Dasher once you’re done. Santa House will open at 1 pm on Saturday. The ice skating rink at Willis Education Center will also be open on Saturday from 12 – 9 pm.

• Jolly Holiday Boutique Hop – Greenville
  

  Ladies mark your calendrs for the First Annual Jolly Holiday Boutique Hop. Shop four fabulous boutiques located in Historic Downtown Greenville. Youniques Boutique, Sadie Grace, The Blue Bow & Sweet Annies Cabin. Enjoy refreshments at each boutique along with in store specials. Donate any child’s winter hat & gloves to any participating boutique and your name will be entered into our GRAND PRIZE HOP drawing.

• Light Up Lakewood – Lakewood
  

  It’s a most joyous of Lakewood traditions and it’s back in Downtown Lakewood for an 11th consecutive year. The spirit of the season will come to life with holiday cheer when Light Up Lakewood 2017 takes place on Saturday, December 2. Light Up Lakewood celebrates the season and the richness of our city’s vibrancy. This free, family-friendly event in Downtown Lakewood features a holiday parade, lighting ceremony, winter fireworks, live music, ice carvings, hot chocolate, food trucks, children’s games and much more. Attendees are invited to stroll Lakewood’s downtown district and visit local stores and restaurants while taking in the sights and sounds of one of Northeast Ohio’s largest holiday celebrations.

• Holiday Loft Tours – Marietta
  

  This one-night only exclusive event allows participants to tour upper-floor businesses and residences in Historic Downtown Marietta. If you’ve ever been curious about what lies above our first-floor storefronts, this is the perfect opportunity to sneak a peek!

• Holly Jolly Run – Piqua
  

  These annual 5K & 10K runs make use of the beautiful Piqua PATH. Download your registration at www.mainstreetpiqua.com or sign up online at www.cantstoprunningco.com Same day registrations are accepted.

• Downtown Piqua Holiday Parade – Piqua
  

  The tradition of celebrating the holiday season with an old-fashioned hometown parade is a long one in downtown Piqua. Families and friends, young and old, fill the streets for this festive event. After the parade kids can visit with Santa in the lobby of the Fort Piqua Plaza.

• Holiday Open House – Portsmouth
  

  The Annual Main Street Portsmouth Holiday Open House will be held, as usual, on two different dates this year—one before Small Business Saturday and one after. These dates fall on November 18 and December 2. These events are an extension to Small Business Saturday and allow the community and regional shoppers to join the business owners downtown for great deals, free refreshments, door prizes, and more. Show a loved one you truly care by finding the perfect gift downtown, where you find the uniqueness a box store lacks. We look forward to seeing you downtown soon, spreading holiday joy and being a part of this wonderful community.

• Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village Home Tour – Tipp City
  

  Tippecanoe Christmas in the Village Home Tour is a seasonal event that is sure to put you in the Holiday mood! Whether you and your significant other are looking for design ideas; you are interested in the charm of Tipp City’s historical homes; or you and a group of gal pals are kicking off the Season with our tour, shopping and feasting in our historic downtown shops and restaurants, we welcome you!

• The Christmas Tree Ship – Vermilion
  

  No other community can boast a Christmas tradition like this one. Main Street Vermilion invites everyone, young and old, to bundle up and gather riverside at McGarvey’s Landing for the arrival of our Christmas Tree Ship, an icebreaker stocked with Christmas trees and holiday cheer. It’s a heartwarming sight to see the breaker make its way down the river with a US Coast Guard escort, which you’re welcome to tour. There’s music from Vermilion’s own Sid Jordan and the Vermilion Community Band, cookies, donuts and hot chocolate to keep you warm and awards for the winners of the Christmas coloring contest.

December 3

• “Delaware: You’re Home for the Holidays” Christmas Parade – Delaware
  

  Come out for the annual Main Street Delaware Christmas Parade. This year’s theme is “Delaware: Your Home for the Holidays.” The Delaware Post Office will be collecting children’s letters to Santa along the route. Be sure to have your little ones write their wish list and the Post Office will be sure to get them delivered safely!

• Holiday Tour of Homes – Painesville
  

  Six historic locations will be open and on display by the Downtown Painesville Organization to celebrate the holiday season from 1-4 pm. Starting at the Railroad Museum on Railroad Street, the self-guided tour will take you through the Conway Land Title Building, Painesville United Methodist Church, Fitzgerald’s Irish Bed & Breakfast, the Social Parlor in College Hall at Lake Erie College, and will end at the Collacott House. Individuals are also encouraged to attend vespers at Lake Erie College following the tour at Morley Music Hall.
  This tour is to celebrate the holiday season with the community. It is also an opportunity to see and learn about the historic architecture which is not normally open to the public. Proceeds from this event will go to the Downtown Painesville Organization to support its mission of “Building a strong future, while preserving our historic past.”

December 4

• Cash Mob Monday – Marietta
  

  Show your support for local downtown businesses by coming out for Cash Mob Monday!

December 6

• Historic Warehouse District Holiday Tour – Cleveland
  

  This popular annual event features tours of Warehouse District apartments along with new developments in the neighborhood and nearby areas. At stops along the way, enjoy delicious food samplings from neighborhood restaurants and bars. Live music adds to the festivities and the evening winds down with a dessert reception.
  

December 7

• Light Up Vermilion – Vermilion
  

  The streets of downtown Vermilion brighten for this evening of holiday shopping and fun. Downtown merchants open their doors for extended evening shopping hours, many offering special deals and refreshments to visitors. Stroll the downtown district, stop for hot chocolate or something more grown up and get yourself in the mood for winter holidays. Bring the kids to Main Street where they can write a letter to Santa and make a Christmas lantern to light the way.
  The Vermilion Arts Guild will be open that night serving up sweet treats. All the artwork and jewelry in the gallery that evening will be 10% off. This is a great place to shop small, shop local and shop for Christmas.
  After you shop, head over the Ritter Public Library for a free holiday concert by the Vermilion Music Association Concert Band at 7PM. ‘Tis the season to enjoy your community!

December 9

• Ugly Sweater Tavern Trek – Kent
  

  Enjoy tasty Great Lakes Brewing Company beers on a fun holiday trek around downtown Kent. Start at the Venice Cafe: pick up your trek pass and special cup between 5pm and 8pm, and enter the Ugly Sweater Contest. Then, visit participating locations at your leisure and enjoy discounts on Great Lakes beers along the way! Tickets are $10 per person.

• Children’s Night – Millersburg
  

  Santa is coming to town! Stores will be open till 8pm to give you a chance to enjoy Millersburg at Christmas! Stop at the Village Toy Shop to see Santa then head on into The Hotel Millersburg to create Christmas cards for our military! Shops will have special treats for the children…and maybe something for the adults too!

December 16

• Mega Mob – Marietta
  

  Show your support for local downtown businesses by coming out for this extra special, one-time-only Mega Mob! Mega Mob features not one, not two, but SIX downtown businesses for participants to explore on a Saturday afternoon.
  All Mega Mobbers will receive a Mega Mob Passport which will guide you on your shopping adventure. Make sure you have your holiday shopping list in hand, because every shopper who gets a punch at all six stores on their passport will be entered to fun prizes, giveaways, and more! No shopper will walk away empty-handed, so invite your friends and join us for a fun shopping experience in downtown Marietta!

December 20

• Lunch Time Shop Hop – Chardon
  

  Uptown employees and guests, join us for shopping and dining throughout the square for a mid-week lunchtime break.