Christmas season comes back to Downtown Lebanon on Friday, Dec. 10 for the annual Christmas on Commercial celebration.
The annual holiday event, a celebration of Lebanon’s Main Street, will be held from 5 until 9 p.m.
Lebanon Downtown Business District Executive Director Cynthia Honssinger-Coffman said plans are underway to make the third annual event “the best yet.”
Activities are scheduled for up and down Commercial Street throughout the night. Even the big man himself will be Downtown. Santa Claus is coming to town and will be greeting children at Cackle Hatchery. Kids can get free photos with Santa.
Festival goers can enjoy three stylish ways to travel Commercial Street. Hogan Land Title will be providing hayrides, Holman-Howe Funeral Home has sponsored carriage rides and First State Community Bank is providing sleigh rides. There will be hayrides and horse drawn carriage rides courtesy of Hogan Land Title and Holman Howe Funeral Homes.
The Downtown merchants are hosting a variety of fun activities including face painting, an ugly sweater contest, a Christmas-themed photo booth, letters to Santa, a Christmas bazaar craft show and plenty of snacks and Christmas music.
A live nativity scene and caroling will be held at the west end of The Market. Food trucks will be parked at the east end. A DJ will be playing Christmas music through the event.
“We hope everyone will come out and enjoy this special holiday event sponsored by Hogan Land Title of Laclede County and First State Community Bank,” Honssinger-Coffman said.
Christmas on Commercial is an annual, family-centered holiday celebration that brings people together in the heart of Lebanon - the Downtown Business District, she added.
“It's a time to have fun as a community, see friends and neighbors, make memories as families,” she said. “We all can benefit from some hope and joy right now, and Christmas on Commercial is an opportunity for both.”
Hungry attendees can visit food vendors at The Market or see the civic groups who will be offering hot dogs, roaster nuts and Frito pies on Commercial Street.
Christmas on Commercial Event Chair Jennifer Early said more than 40 businesses are participating
She said activities also include carolers at the Post Office and traveling carolers walking up and down Commercial Street.
Emergency personnel, fire trucks and police cars will be at the corner of Commercial and Madison.
“Something fun can be found in every block of Commercial Street in the Downtown District,” Early said. “Our planning committee has been meeting each month, we are excited to see all the new family fun activities this year. Our hope is that Christmas on Commercial will continue to grow every year not only in activities but also making memories.”
At the newspaper office, a Twinkles Tree of Joy will be set up so children can pick a candy cane off the tree and receive a special toy that goes along with the number on the candy cane.
When the kids go to Cackle Hatchery and see Mr. and Mrs. Claus they each receive a Twinkle’s Community Coloring Book and crayons sponsored by the Laclede County Record and local businesses.
The Wednesday (Dec. 8) edition of the Laclede County Record has a map of all the activities Downton for Christmas on Commercial.
