The city will be getting into the Christmas spirit this month when it hosts its Christmas Walk and tree lighting Monday, Nov. 27.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., citizens will be able to explore the Uptown and Partners Park, surrounded by holiday regalia. The tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. at Partners Park.
Marysville’s events and recreation coordinator Amanda Morris said this year’s event will look similar to past Christmas Walks.
“We do see a lot of little babies and young ones come out,” she said.
She said after the initial event, Santa will be available to talk to kids each Thursday until Dec. 23. Morris said those times will coincide with a “workshop” staffed by volunteers. She said the workshop is a place where residents with young children can get out of the cold.
The Thursday dates will run from 5 to 7 p.m.
Children will also be able to give letters to Santa, among other activities.
“If the kiddos want to color, there’s usually coloring books in there, too,” she said.
Santa will also be at the Houston House Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the Marysville Public Library Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to noon. Morris said there will be a chalkboard at Partners Park those days to let residents know where to take their children for a visit with Santa.
This is the third year running for the workshop, according Morris. She said they’ve been offering it to volunteer groups and residents since the Christmas Walk was moved to Partners Park.
Morris said the city is still looking for volunteers to serve at the workshops. She noted the city is looking for any group to volunteer, whether it be a church congregation or boy scout troop.
Aside from coloring and letter writing, groups operating the workshop are allowed to do their own activities while staffing. She said the library might have a live reading, or the art league might have a time for children to do crafts.
“We just kind of leave that part open-ended,” Morris said.
She singled out the First United Methodist Church, which will use its slot to tell the story of Jesus’ birth later in December. She said the group would like to do a “living nativity” scene next year with actors and live animals. They’re still working out rules, since animals aren’t allowed in Partners Park.
In the meantime, she said she’s excited to see what people think of church’s presentation this year.
“Hopefully it goes well and is received well,” she said.