A crowd of friends and neighbors gathered in uptown Hillsboro Friday evening to welcome the Christmas season with a tree-lighting ceremony and holiday activities hosted by the Hillsboro Uptown Business Association.
Jingling bells on a horse-drawn wagon could be heard in the center of town as the Hillsboro High School Symphonic Choir sang carols on the courthouse lawn, and a 12-foot tree placed in front of the Highland County Courthouse by the Hillsboro High School Student Council was ceremoniously lit after a crowd of about 50 people counted down to illumination.
Meanwhile, people strolling through the uptown area enjoyed an assortment of festive activities throughout town, including a performance by the Hillsboro First United Methodist Church Bell Choir and a “Santa’s Workshop” setup in the Community Room at 110 S. High St.
Appearances Salon hosted a letter-writing session for kids to send notes to Santa Claus, the Olde Cellar offered free hot chocolate and treats, kids made “reindeer food” at Cundiff’s Flowers, and at 24 Deli youngsters were able to create reindeer brownies.
Other businesses also open at the time offered special deals.
In other holiday events, the upcoming 36th annual Greenfield Eagles Christmas Parade will start at 6 p.m. Saturday in Greenfield. This year’s theme is Farmtown Christmas.
Parade lineup begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Greenfield Research parking lot. Judging will begin at 5:30 p.m. The parade is open to anyone and there is no fee to enter.
The parade will depart the Research parking lot, come down Seventh Street to Jefferson Street, then turn left and follow Jefferson Street to Washington Street, where it will turn left and end at the firehouse.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on the last float in the parade and they will stop at the firehouse where kids will be able to visit with them and be treated to hot chocolate, cookies and candy.
The HUBA Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 9, starting at 6 p.m. It will begin at the Highland County Fairgrounds and is expected to arrive in the uptown area around 6:20 p.m.
At 10 a.m. on the day of the Hillsboro parade HUBA will host an Ugly Christmas Sweater Run/Walk. Visit HUBA’s Facebook page for more information.
Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.
