Amherst and Vermilion hosting holiday celebrations

Christmas is coming to towns, starting this weekend in Amherst and Vermilion. Preparation started before Thanksgiving when a small but undaunted group of volunteers began decorating the community Christmas tree in Exchange Park in Vermilion's historic downtown. It won't be lit until this Friday during Light Up Vermilion, the preholiday party that kicks off the season. "Getting this tree ready for the community is just like getting your own Christmas tree ready at your house," said Marilou Suszko, longtime volunteer and former executive director of Main Street Vermilion. "It's always crooked, there's always a bad side. We try to put the 4,000 lights away in good order every year but somehow they migrate into one big mass." Four volunteers and workers from the city's Parks and Recreation Department pitched in to dress the tree, which was donated by a city resident. For the past several years, Main Street Vermilion, the event's sponsor, harvested fir trees from the city's parks or properties. A parks employee crowns the top of the tree with a star donated by Discount Drug Mart, she said. A few days later high winds threatened to undo all their work, Suszko said. "We were all over the place, picking up the decorations and putting them back on," she said. The tree is hung with silver, gold and white glittery bowls and snowflakes. "We put them on with zip ties and hope they last.'' Friday's fun begins at 5 p.m., with activities centered near the park. The city's Rotary Club will provide roasted chestnuts and the Lions Club will hand out hot chocolate. There will be carolers and alpacas, the Grinch, a light-up selfie station and a scavenger hunt with prizes. Awards will be given out for the children's coloring contest, the Kiwanis will offer kids games and prizes and at 6 p.m. Santa himself will arrive. At 6:15 p.m., Mayor Jim Forthofer will flip the switch to light up the tree, which will stay lit through the holidays. The Vermilion Community Band will perform a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. in the Ritter Public Library. Santa's house is back in East Exchange Park for the season, too. Children can meet Santa to share their holiday wishes, take photos and pick up a Santa swag bag and complimentary dog treats from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday and and noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Amherst will usher in the season with Miracle on Main Street from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. The Madrigals of Marion L. Steele High School will begin caroling at Town Hall at 5:45 p.m., in time to kick off the Christmas parade at 6 p.m. The parade starts at the high school and will wind its way up Park Avenue to Town Hall. The Marching Comets, cheerleaders, Steele sports teams and Girl and Boy Scouts troops will be featured in the parade, along with Santa Claus, who will light the tree. Shops and restaurants in both cities will be decorated for the holidays and open for visitors during the events. For information, visit mainstreetvermilion.org and mainstreetamherst.org. Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com.