EDIT: The Christmas in the Village event has been postponed to Monday, Dec. 7.
The New Concord Area Board of Trade is hosting the “Christmas in the Village” event Monday, Nov. 30. The event is taking place along Main Street from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Typically in the village, there is the annual Christmas Parade. But, due to COVID-19, the goal was to still celebrate the holidays but as safe as possible. The Board of Trade’s reasoning behind the event like this is for people to stay socially distanced, with face masks. The goal is for people to walk down the sidewalk one way and use the other side of the street to walk the other direction.
The night will be a way to get community members together while featuring the village’s businesses.
“It’s to bring the Christmas spirit to town and get people out. Also, see the businesses that are opening and to show support to your local business. This shows that community members even in this pandemic are still wanting to spread the Christmas spirit,” said Board of Trade President Derrick Gingerich.
The village will be decorated for the holidays, with many local businesses open on Main Street. Local organizations and businesses will be lined up passing out candy, treats, hot chocolate, and singing Christmas carols.
Other things to look forward to include a live nativity scene, holiday music, and Santa will be on the patio outside of Wally’s Pizza. Children are encouraged to write letters to Santa and bring them to the event and drop them in his mailbox.
This event features new ways to celebrate the holidays, and even has made the New Concord Area Board of Trade think about next year’s celebrations.
“There’s been a parade probably close to 40 years, it is something we can build on, we still want to have a parade next year, but maybe we can build on the “Christmas in the Village,” said Gingerich.
At 6 p.m., there will be a Christmas tree lighting next to the New Concord Branch Library on Main Street. The lighting happens every year, and the employee of the school district that has the newest baby will light the tree.
