Plain City officials are planning for what they call, “the most charming small town Christmas celebration around.”
The village will celebrate the 16th Christmas Under the Clock from 5 – 8 p.m., Saturday.
“There will be a lot going on,” said Stacy Carl, chairman of the Christmas Under the Clock Committee for Uptown Plain City Organization (UPCO).
Julie Weaver, with the UPCO board, explained that Christmas Under the Clock is a “family friendly celebration of the holiday season that has something for everyone.”
“From pictures with Santa to craft items for sale to a ton of free food and hot drinks from the local businesses, Christmas Under the Clock will have you covered,” she said.
Weaver said that while the event continues to gain popularity with families in the community, there has also been an increase in the number of volunteers with the event.
“They have stepped up and have really worked hard to make this a great event,” Weaver said.
The event will begin at the village Christmas tree in the flatiron, near the intersection of Main and Chillicothe streets. Winners of the coloring contest will serve as tree lighting pixies for the event, helping Mayor Darin Lane bring the tree to life.
“Our tree lighting celebration is filled with local talent ready to entertain right up to the countdown and the pulling of the candy cane switch that lights the village tree,” Weaver said.
New this year is group caroling as part of the tree-lighting festivities. Carl compared it to the Central Park scene in Elf. She said another committee member had been part of a similar activity at another community’s Christmas celebration.
“She said that was something that brought people together and really put people in the Christmas mood,” Carl said.
Following the lighting ceremony, a wagon shuttle will be available to take participants to Yoder’s True Value Hardware Store to visit Santa.
“I guess that’s really the highlight for a lot of people,” said Stacy Carl, chairman of UPCO’s Christmas Under the Clock committee.
For many businesses, the highlight will be their open house activities. Carl said more than two dozen local business and organizations will be open and offering activities. She said many will have refreshments as well as their own drawings.
“It’s really important to let people know about these businesses and to get them to see what these businesses offer and what’s available in a small town,” said Carl.
She said there will be a craft fair and raffle at Plain City Auction. The auction drawing will be held at 7:30 p.m. and participants do not need to be present to win.
Carl explained that maps will be available at the event to help participants know what business are open and some of the open house activities.
Carl said there will also be plenty of activity at the Lovejoy Plaza on Main Street.
“There will be a lot of organizations and businesses that don’t have store fronts that will be in the plaza setting up tents,” Carl said.
She said the UPCO tent will be offering information about the organization and the community and serving hot bean soup. Also in the plaza will be artists from Rock on Ice, an ice carving business and competition team based in Plain City.
“That is always pretty popular,” Carl said.
In addition to the wagon rides to Yoder’s a shuttle will be available to visit businesses on Jefferson Avenue. Singer/songwriter Anne Marie Gadd will be performing at Plain City Druggist from 6-8 p.m.
The a cappella quartet Glee Noel will be performing at the Plain City Public Library. The Christmas Under the Clock open house will be the last chance for the public to visit the library before renovation begins in early December.
The Friends of the Library’s Surplus Sale will begin at noon Saturday and will feature library furniture, décor and miscellaneous items.
Carl said the event is a good time to do some local Christmas shopping.
“Plus, its just nice to get out in your community,” she said.
Those wanting more information about the event are asked to contact UPCO at info@uptownplaincity.com for more information.