The historic village of Boalsburg knows how to celebrate. Although perhaps best known for its annual celebration of its place in American history as the birthplace of Memorial Day, it also shows off its small-town charm at the annual Boalsburg Hometown Christmas event, slated for Saturday, Dec. 1.
“It’s an opportunity for people to have a small-town Christmas experience and to experience the character of an old historical village,” said committee member Terry Swanger.
The family-friendly event kicks off with Breakfast with Santa at the Boalsburg Fire Hall from 8:30-11 a.m. The $5 breakfast includes an opportunity for kids to create some holiday crafts with the help of a local Girl Scout troop. To create a festive atmosphere, holiday-themed artwork by Mount Nittany Elementary School students will adorn the walls as Christmas music plays in the background. The artwork is part of a drawing contest, judged by a jury of local artists and retired art teachers.
Restless Winds Carriage Rides will provide horse-drawn carriage rides down Main Street from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a small fee.
“This is an opportunity to look around and see the oldest homes in the village. It’s also an opportunity to stop at the Boalsburg Heritage Museum. You can pop in and see what life would have been like in the 1820s in the village,” Swanger said.
Located at 304 E. Main St., the museum will feature volunteers dressed in period clothing baking cookies in a rare historic beehive oven at its summer kitchen. Cookie samples and free hot chocolate will be available, Swanger said.
A new addition to this year’s event is a family Christmas music hour from 3-4 p.m. Local musician and world-renowned harmonica expert Richard Sleigh will perform and lead families in a sing-along at the Boalsburg Fire Hall.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the village’s quaint locally-owned shops and restaurants, which will all be open during the day. Most will be collecting entries for a chance to win one of several gift baskets of items donated by local merchants.
The drawing will take place at the tree lighting, which begins at 4:45 p.m. at the Diamond. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by fire truck to lead the crowd in Christmas carols and to light the living blue spruce.
Finally, the celebration will finish off back at the fire hall with a family-friendly Holiday Hop, featuring a DJ and dancing in an alcohol-free party atmosphere.
Boalsburg Hometown Christmas is sponsored by the Boalsburg Village Conservancy. For more information, visit the Boalsburg Hometown Christmas Facebook page.
