Walking into the holidays
Candlelight Walk is this year's December First Friday
Santa and Mayor Robin Laubaugh light the tree on the gazebo island during a previous candlelight walk. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – For many years the Candlelight Walk has served as Wadsworth’s kick off to the holiday season with the lighting of the tree on the gazebo, Christmas music, carriage rides and all sorts of festive fun.
That tradition will continue this year but, for the very first time, will serve as one of Main Street Wadsworth’s First Friday events.
“It is undecided if it will stay that way or be a standalone event again in the future,” said Adrianne Krauss, executive director of Main Street Wadsworth.
This year’s First Friday Candlelight Walk and Gingerbread Village will take place Friday, Dec. 6 from 5-9 p.m. in the downtown area. Roads including Main, High, College and Broad streets will be closed from 4:30-9:30 p.m.
The Wadsworth High School Marching Band will perform at the gazebo from 5:30-6 p.m. with the tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Robin Laubaugh and The Salvation Army beginning at 5:45 p.m.
From 6-9 p.m. there will be free downtown horse and carriage rides sponsored by Premier Family Dental, the Blue Tip Festival Committee and Medina County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Many downtown businesses will be open for shopping and dining and storefront windows will be decorated with gingerbread houses on display.
The sidewalks will be lined with luminaries and there will be about a dozen Salvation Army kettles throughout the downtown area as the organization kicks off their kettle campaign. Other features include a photo booth, the Summit Chordsmen Barbershop Quartet, Nutcracker ballerinas from Northeast Ohio Dance, an ice sculpture demonstration by Ice-n-Dice, live music, hot chocolate and cookies provided by the Girl Scouts and kettle corn. The library will be offering free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, read to a therapy dog, performances by the Wadsworth High School Jazz Quartet and a North Pole mailbox for children’s letters.
Krauss said Main Street Wadsworth will announce the 2020 First Friday themes soon after this event.
That tradition will continue this year but, for the very first time, will serve as one of Main Street Wadsworth’s First Friday events.
“It is undecided if it will stay that way or be a standalone event again in the future,” said Adrianne Krauss, executive director of Main Street Wadsworth.
This year’s First Friday Candlelight Walk and Gingerbread Village will take place Friday, Dec. 6 from 5-9 p.m. in the downtown area. Roads including Main, High, College and Broad streets will be closed from 4:30-9:30 p.m.
The Wadsworth High School Marching Band will perform at the gazebo from 5:30-6 p.m. with the tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Robin Laubaugh and The Salvation Army beginning at 5:45 p.m.
From 6-9 p.m. there will be free downtown horse and carriage rides sponsored by Premier Family Dental, the Blue Tip Festival Committee and Medina County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Many downtown businesses will be open for shopping and dining and storefront windows will be decorated with gingerbread houses on display.
The sidewalks will be lined with luminaries and there will be about a dozen Salvation Army kettles throughout the downtown area as the organization kicks off their kettle campaign. Other features include a photo booth, the Summit Chordsmen Barbershop Quartet, Nutcracker ballerinas from Northeast Ohio Dance, an ice sculpture demonstration by Ice-n-Dice, live music, hot chocolate and cookies provided by the Girl Scouts and kettle corn. The library will be offering free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, read to a therapy dog, performances by the Wadsworth High School Jazz Quartet and a North Pole mailbox for children’s letters.
Krauss said Main Street Wadsworth will announce the 2020 First Friday themes soon after this event.
