Members of the Children’s Choir of Huntington County sing Christmas carols following the lighting of Sunken Gardens on Sunday evening, Nov. 26.

Before Santa Claus makes his way down chimneys in Roanoke, he’ll be making his way down Main Street.

The arrival of Kris Kringle in the community on Friday evening, Dec. 1, will signal the start of Christmas in the Village, a two-day event featuring opportunities to meet Santa, purchase one-of-a-kind gifts at craft shows, enter a drawing for a $400 shopping spree and much more.

Lots of activities await Christmas revelers both young and older in Markle Saturday and Sunday, as Christmas in Our Town kicks off the holiday season.

Markle’s Christmas Lights Contest will illuminate the town, with voting by the public for the best displays, going on until Saturday, Dec. 2.

First prize is $75, second prize is $50 and third prize is $25. Votes can be cast at Town Hall or by emailing utilityclerk@markleindiana.com.

Luminaries will also be displayed in downtown Markle to light the evenings.

Lots of activities await Christmas revelers both young and older in Markle Saturday and Sunday, as Christmas in Our Town kicks off the holiday season.

Markle’s Christmas Lights Contest will illuminate the town, with voting by the public for the best displays, going on until Saturday, Dec. 2.

First prize is $75, second prize is $50 and third prize is $25. Votes can be cast at Town Hall or by emailing utilityclerk@markleindiana.com.

Luminaries will also be displayed in downtown Markle to light the evenings.

Community members are invited to visit with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Huntington Township Fire Station.

The event is free and all ages are welcome to take part in snacks, crafts and photos.

The fire station is at 939 N. Broadway, Huntington.

Santa Claus listen to a Christmas wish from Evalyn Dolby at the LaFontaine Center on Friday evening, Nov. 24, after the Rotary Christmas lights illumination in downtown Huntington. Children and parents participated in a glow parade from the lights to the center.

Tina Bobilya, event volunteer, leads a Christmas singalong before the lighting of the Rotary Park Christmas lights in downtown Huntington on Friday evening, Nov. 24.

Steve Yoder (right), superintendent of parks and recreation for Huntington City Services, greets Santa Claus before the lighting of the Rotary Park Christmas lights in downtown Huntington on Friday evening, Nov. 24.

Santa Claus greets a pair of admirers before the lighting of the Christmas lights at Rotary Park in downtown Huntington on Friday evening, Nov. 24. Following the lighting, children and parents participated in a glow parade down to the LaFontaine Center to meet with Santa.

Three-year-old Malcolm Voght (right) tells Santa Claus he wants a chainsaw for Christmas so he can cut wood with his grandfather during the Winter Warrenland activity at the Knight Bergman Center in Warren on Friday night, Nov. 24. After arriving in town on a fire truck and greeting admirers, Santa lit the town Christmas tree and then heard wishes at the KBC.

Parker Stroud (left) gets some help from his grandmother, Marcia Stroud (second left), as he selects a cookie from a refreshment table tended by Joan Boyer (third from left) and Deb Baker on Friday night, Nov. 24, at the Winter Warrenland activity at the Knight Bergman Center.

Leland Heath (right) talks to Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Knight Bergman Center on Friday evening, Nov. 24, during Winter Warrenland. Santa arrived downtown by fire truck, lit the town Christmas tree and then heard Christmas wishes while hot drinks and cookies were served inside the KBC.

Santa and Mrs. Claus greet the crowd gathered to meet them in downtown Warren as the pair arrive Friday evening, Nov. 24 by fire truck for Winter Warrenland. After greeting admirers and using Christmas magic to light the town Christmas tree, the pair headed to the Knight Bergman Center to hear Christmas wishes.

The community of Warren will welcome Santa Claus on Friday, Nov. 24, and kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

Santa, riding in a horse-drawn wagon escorted by the Warren Volunteer Fire Department, is set to arrive on Friday, Nov. 24, at 6 p.m.

His first stop will be outside the Warren Town Hall at 132 N. Wayne St., where he’ll spend a few minutes greeting the people who have come out to meet him. After overseeing the lighting of the tree, he’ll lead the crowd down 2nd Street to the Knight Bergman Center at 132 N. Nancy St.

Rachelle Slater (left) and Ann Rethlake help get food packaged up as part of the Andrews Community Helpers Thanksgiving meal on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Boy Scout Jordan Rockey unloads a Christmas tree from the back of a semi in the rain at the Lions grounds on West Park Drive on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Lions annually sell Christmas trees as a fund-raiser.

Admiring a Christmas tree decorated by Citizens Telephone at the Holiday Walk & Festival of Trees in downtown Warren on Friday, Nov. 17, are (from left) Valerie Woodmansee, of Converse; Sandy McCoy, of LaFontaine; and Cheryl Pike, of Kokomo.

Lincoln Stivers pets a donkey at a petting zoo sponsored by T.D. Wall Inc. at the Warren Holiday Walk & Festival of Trees on Friday night, Nov. 17, in downtown Warren.

Marcella Winters (left), of the Warren Creative Arts Outreach, dishes some soup to Jim Sparks, of Rock Creek Township, during Soup for the Arts, a fund-raiser for the group at the Knight Bergman Center as a part of the Warren Holiday Walk & Festival of Trees on Friday night, Nov. 17.

Rachel Zahm (left) and Emily Goedesky unveil a statue of their father, Thomas Aquinas Parker, at the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park during the Huntington Veterans Day Program on Saturday, Nov. 11. Parker was a Navy corpsman from Huntington County who died in the Vietnam War. His body was never recovered. The $70,000 statue was funded through gifts and in-kind donations.

The Christmas season arrives in Warren Friday evening, Nov. 17, with the community’s traditional Festival of Trees and Holiday Walk.
This year, the event has expanded to include a soup supper and gingerbread house contest, both sponsored by the newly-organized Warren Creative Arts Outreach.

Thirty-three trees, decorated by businesses, organizations and individuals, will be on display throughout the downtown Warren area from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors can vote for their favorite trees, and Miss Warren 2017 Sarah Jones will select one tree to receive the Queen’s Choice award.

United States Marine Corps veteran Richard “Gomer” Endsley (left) accepts a cup of coffee and a doughnut from Leanne Runyan, admissions and marketing director at Miller’s Merry Manor, Friday morning, Nov. 10, at the nursing home. Miller’s handed out free coffee and doughnuts, and offered drive-through service, to veterans in honor of Veterans Day. Richardson, who spent 22 months including his 19th and 20th birthdays in Vietnam, was looking forward to riding in a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter during the community Veterans Day celebration the following day.

The Riverview Middle School Choir performs during the school’s Veterans Day program on Friday, Nov. 10. The students honored the veterans with music by both the choir and the band, and individual students spoke to their peers about members of their families who have served their country.

Julie Priest-Young (right), social services director at Norwood Health and Rehabilitation Center, hands a scrolled certificate to resident Dwight Hinds to commemorate his service in the United States Army Infantry, as activities director Kay Ray (left) looks on. Hinds was stationed in Omaha Beach. Eight veterans were recognized during the program, which included a color guard ceremony, flag retirement ceremony and remarks by Mayor Brooks Fetters and State Sen. Andy Zay.

Gary Minton (right), grand marshal of the Huntington Veterans Day Parade, and Ray Eckert unveil a monument dedicated to Vietnam War veterans during a Veterans Day program at the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov. 11. The monument accompanies a statue of Thomas Aquinas Parker, a Navy corpsman from Huntington County who died in the Vietnam War and whose body was never recovered.

Gary Minton (left), grand marshal of the Huntington Veterans Day Parade, and Richard “Gomer” Endsley (right) unveil a plaque commemorating Huntington County’s Vietnam War fatalities during a Veterans Day program at the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov. 11. Watching the unveiling are Vietnam War veterans and family members.

Leslie Ackermann and Mel Ring (third and fourth from left, respectively) remove the cover from a new plaque commemorating Huntington County’s Korean War fatalities during the Huntington Veterans Day Program at the Veterans Memorial in Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov. 11. Watching the unveiling are (first from left) Marilyn Hayes, whose uncle, Carl McVoy, was listed on the plaque; (second from left) Tim Eckert, Huntington County veterans service officer; and Steve Kimmel, executive director of the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce.

Jamie Groves (left) dishes up a plate of food for veteran Brian Reeder during a breakfast on Friday, Nov. 10, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2689, in Huntington. Sheriff Terry Stoffel coordinated the annual breakfast, which was prepared and served by members of his staff, Indiana State Police and other law enforcement officers. The officers also handed out T-shirts to the hundreds of veterans in attendance.

Leona Van Meter (left), of Peabody Retirement Community, in North Manchester, explains services available to United States Army Reserve veteran Rex Plasterer, of Roanoke, during the Veterans Expo held Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Huntington National Guard Armory. A total of 28 vendors, including military organizations, elected representatives and the YMCA were on hand to offer special services and discounts to the veterans in attendance.

United States Army veteran Jim Shoustal (left) chats with Huntington County Veterans Service Officer Tim Eckert at the Veterans Expo Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the National Guard Armory in Huntington. It is the second year for the event, which seeks to connect veterans with services such as VA health care enrollment, obtaining military records and employment.