Free holiday event in West Carrollton

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio (WDTN) - West Carrollton announced the details Monday of its free holiday festival, which will conclude with the lighting of a new 25-foot metal tree with red LED lights.

When the Holiday Festival concludes on Saturday, December 1, with the annual tree lighting, a new 25-foot metal tree with red LED lights will be glowing.

The City Beautiful Commission, which co-hosts the event from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 1 at the Civic Center with the parks and recreation department, purchased the new display due to the loss of several mature evergreens that were damaged in a 2008 windstorm.

New, smaller trees have been planted, but lack the height to showcase the holiday lights, according to Christian Mattingly, parks and recreation director.

The event, is free and open to the public, and features Santa’s arrival on a fire truck at approximately 3 p.m.
Families can take free photos with Santa Claus during the event. The photos will be available for pickup in the lobby of the Civic Center about one week later.

Other festival activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo, and musical performances held in the council chambers. Free cookies and hot chocolate will also be served.

The West Carrollton branch of the Dayton Metro Library will host stories and book mark decorating in the Civic Center community room. The West Carrollton Church of the Nazarene will also provide crafts and games in an outside tent.

During the festival, submissions to the annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest will be on display in the Civic Center. All participants will receive a one-day admission pass to Wilson Park Pool for the 2013 season. Entries must be dropped off at the Parks Department in the West Carrollton Civic Center by 4:30 p.m. on November 30.

The West Carrollton Civic Center lobby will also house Santa’s mailbox until Wednesday, Dec. 12. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in order to receive a response from Santa.