Published: November 20, 2008 11:23 pm         

HOLIDAY: Medina celebrates Christmas with Nov. 29 festival

Just like the lyrics of the famous holiday song, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” around Medina. And as the countdown to Christmas continues, the community prepares for its Old Time Christmas Celebration. The event will combine the traditional Santa parade and Christmas fair, that normally are held in Medina, to create a day full of events for all ages.

“We’re looking for it to be a fun event,” said Lisa Trippensee, who is one of the chairpersons in charge of this year’s event. “We want to show people they can stay local and enjoy what they have in their own town.”

The Old Time Christmas Celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 29 in downtown Medina. Events are scheduled throughout the days and include horse-drawn sleigh and wagon rides, ornament decoration and caroling by the Medina High School.

Trippensee said that for children, there will be pictures with Santa, a popcorn-stringing contest, a coloring contest and a children’s scavenger hunt. The Santa parade will be held at noon, starting at the Medina Historical Museum on West Avenue and proceeding east on Pearl Street, south on Main Street and stopping in front of the Presbyterian Church.

At 5 p.m. the Tree Lighting ceremony at Rotary Park will be held, with Santa and music.

Trippensee said that most activities and events are free to the public. The swag-making at Whole Nine Yards and Apple Blossom Florist will cost $8 for materials, and cookie decorating at Case-Nic Cookies will cost a $1 per cookie.

“We wanted a free event,” Trippensee said. “The tourism committee and Go Art! is paying for a lot of this, and the MBA is helping organize it. ”

Cindy Robinson, co-chairperson of the event, hopes that it is going to bring locals into town to see what Medina has. She also hopes that being on the Thanksgiving weekend, extended family can see what there is in Medina.

“We want them to enjoy their hometown,” Robinson said. “Enjoy the holiday.”

Besides the Old Time Christmas Celebration, from 1 to 4 p.m., Medina Historical Museum, 406 West Ave., will hold an open house. Also, at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., the Medina Railroad Museum, 530 West Ave., will hold train rides with Santa.

On Main Street, weather permitting, the Historical Society will hold a bake sale in front of the Chamber of Commerce office. RealtyUSA will sell mulled and cold cider, along with ornaments. The Masons will sell hot dogs, hamburgers, pop and chips in front of the Presbyterian Church, and the Medina Business Association have a raffle. Future Farmers of America will be selling apples and gallons of cider, and Boy Scout Troop No. 35 will sell hot chocolate. Trippensee said that several other business and organizations will be selling different things during the day.

Trippensee said that they have several big ideas for next year, including bringing back the tree-decorating contest. They would also like to have a window-decorating event, where every business on Main Street takes a phrase from “The Night Before Christmas,” and decorates their window, accordingly. Trippensee said that adults and children can then go through and read the story, seeing the windows. The final idea would move the Santa parade to the evening, making a night parade with lighted floats and more participants.

“We’re looking to expand,” Trippensee said. “If we have a bigger event, we could attract more people.”

Trippensee said that this will be a positive event for the community and she is very happy with how it came together.

For an entire list of Old Time Christmas Celebration events, look for the flyer in Tuesday’s Journal-Register. For more information, to suggest ideas for the celebration or to participate, contact Trippensee at 798-2421 or Robinson at 590-0699.

Contact Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.