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Jolly Old Christmas Elf ready to make first appearances

Madison Wajer visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus during their visit to Huntington during the 2008 Christmas in the City event. Santa will arrive in Huntington this year on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Madison Wajer visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus during their visit to Huntington during the 2008 Christmas in the City event. Santa will arrive in Huntington this year on Saturday, Nov. 28. TAB file photo.

The Christmas season is fast approaching - and with it, Santa Claus.

The jolly old elf will make his appearance in two Huntington County towns this weekend, rolling into Warren on Friday, Nov. 27, and then showing up in Huntington on Saturday, Nov. 28.

The visit to Warren is part of "Winter WarrenLand," which begins with Santa's arrival at the Warren Town Hall at 6 p.m. on Friday. He'll officiate at the lighting of the town Christmas tree and downtown lights, then lead the crowd to the Knight-Bergman Center for another lighting ceremony and refreshments.

Santa will visit with children at the Knight-Bergman Center following the lighting ceremony there and again on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Huntington's Christmas in the City gets under way with Santa's Parade on Saturday, Nov. 28. Mr. Claus will ride down Jefferson Street from the St. Mary Church parking lot to the Huntington County Courthouse.

Following the parade, Santa will make himself available to hear Christmas wishes from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Huntington County Visitor and Convention Bureau, located on the corner of Market and Jefferson streets.

Photos with Santa will be available for a fee.

The day also includes music, theater and train rides.

Area merchants will offer special sales events and a variety of dining options.

The Santa Express, staged by Miller Family Amusements, will offer train rides for children and adults from 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is a fee for the train rides.

The quartet of Tom and Doug McElhaney, Bill Richey and Marvin Hall will entertain downtown visitors during the morning festivities.

Joel Froomkin will present free readings of "A Christmas Carol" at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at The New Huntington Theatre.

Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Free-will donations to benefit the LaFontaine Arts Council will be accepted. Doors will open 15 minutes prior to each performance.

Charles Dickens' book, first published in December of 1843, redefined the spirit and importance of Christmas. The religious and social implications of the book and its depiction of Christmas traditions played a significant role in reinventing the holiday with an emphasis on family, good will and compassion.

Froomkin will perform the same abridged version of the story which Dickens himself adapted for his speaking tours.

The performance allows Froomkin the opportunity to share one of his favorite stories with the audience.

"My whole life I've been drawn to the story," Froomkin says. " I would stay up all night on Christmas Eve as a kid watching all the different adaptations over and over, but I have to say that Dickens' own version is the most vivid and moving of all."

Froomkin performs the 90-minute version of the story as an annual thank you to the Huntington community for its support of The New Huntington, he says.

Parents are advised that this show might not be ideal for younger children.

In addition to the two community celebrations, two area businesses are offering special Christmas events this weekend.
Pace Chevrolet, 239 Hauenstein Rd., Huntington, will hold a holiday open house on Friday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors to the open house are invited to drop off unwrapped gifts for the Toys for Tots Christmas project.

On Saturday, Nov. 28, Santa will begin making the rounds of MarkleBank branches. He'll be at the Huntington branch that day from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. He's scheduled to visit the Bluffton North branch on Dec. 5, the Van Buren branch on Dec. 12 and the Markle branch on Dec. 19. Each of the events last from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.