Light Up Meadville 2016

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Light Up Meadville
Friday, December 2, 2016
 
Meadville, PA - It’s that time of the year! Let’s welcome in the holiday season with community spirit, excitement, and fun. The Meadville-Western Crawford County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Meadville, our local retailers, the Meadville Market House and our sponsors - First National Insurance Agency, Smith Gray Buick GMC, and Pampered Palate will officially kick-off the season with Light Up Meadville 2016!
 
Along with all the wonderful traditions of Light Up Meadville, First Friday Businesses will be open late as well.   First Fridays happen every First Friday of the month and offer a variety of wonderful activities that showcase the best of our business sector.   As you are strolling along the streets of our downtown, be sure to stop in these businesses and check out what they offer.
 
Green Shoppe will have holiday play dough for kids & holiday essential oil diffuser for customers who stop in.   ZEST Kitchen and Pantry will be hosting a pop-up Tasting at Trinity Lutheran Church on Park Ave as they light up their tree and celebrate their yearlong activities for the Reformation.  Meadville Community Theater will be premiering An Alternative Xmas, an evening of nontraditional Christmas songs.  For a special snack, Save Room for Dessert will have their warm pretzels and pepperoni balls.  If you need a break, Purple Fox Games will be hosting Magic the Gathering.  Don’t forget Creative Crust to have a drink from the expresso bar and a free cookie while you listen to music by the Flap Jacks.  Finally, top it off by listening to Christmas jazz music by “Diamond in the Rough” at Harmony Formals
 
Once again, the Chamber of Commerce is organizing a holiday decorating contest for downtown Meadville businesses with the theme “White Christmas.” Chamber membership is not necessary to participate. Secret judges will be visiting participating stores between noon on December 2nd and noon on December 5^th at noon to evaluate the festive decor. A list of participating businesses will be provided as the event draws closer so the community can visit the displays. Businesses wishing to participate should contact the Chamber of Commerce (814) 337-8030 for an entry form which must be returned before the event to enter the contest. There is no cost to participate.
 
The Friends of the Market House will again be sponsoring a Christmas Carriage Ride Event in conjunction with Meadville’s Light-Up Night festivities on Friday, December 2^nd from 5:00 – 9:00 PM.  Complementary cookies and hot chocolate will be served inside the Market House, there will be live hammer dulcimer music, and horse-drawn carriage rides will depart from the Market House and travel around Diamond Park.  There is a nominal charge for the carriage rides of $3.00 for adults and children over 12 and $2.00 for children 12 and under.  The carriages, with seating for 10-12 passengers, will be drawn by teams of Percherons.  The Market House will remain open for business throughout the entire event, and several vendors will be offering sampling of their products and demonstrations of their arts.
 
At Diamond Park, Festivities will begin at 5:30pm at the Gazebo in Downtown Meadville. COOL 101.7 will kick off the celebration with Christmas music. Starting at 6:00pm activities will include: the presentation of the community tree decorated by the City of Meadville, music by Stone Methodist Church Bell Choir and French Creek Community Theater, and the official proclamation to Light Up Meadville 2016 recited by Mayor Leroy Stearns. Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies are available courtesy of Pampered Palate and served by members of Leadership Meadville.
 
Following these activities, Santa Claus will arrive at Diamond Park on his sleigh with the help of Smith-Gray Buick-GMC to help with the lighting of the tree. Santa will then ride through the downtown area ending at the Academy Theatre, lighting up business along the way. Once at the Academy Theatre, Santa will be listening to Christmas wishes and passing out candy canes generously donated by Save-A-Lot Food Stores.
 
Jeron Jewelers will be offering 20% off all of their estate jewelry, with a promotion by Pandora as well. Anyone who brings in an item for Project Support Our Troops will be entered in a drawing for a box of Casey’s chocolate fudge.
 
Chateau Christine will be hosting a collection for Women’s Services at their shop that evening.
 
Stone Methodist Church will be holding their Annual “Ring Those Holiday Bells” concert at 7:00pm. The concert will feature a vocal choir as well as five English Handbell Choirs.