Batavia's Celebration of Lights and Mistletoe Magic ushers in season
You have to concede that the holidays have truly arrived after the turkey has been eaten and icy air is breathing down the back of your neck.
Never mind that you have been hearing holiday music for weeks now, this is the magical season in real time --and with it a bevy of local events for the whole family to enjoy.
Here is a look at two major holiday-related events coming up in Batavia.
Tree lighting
Batavia's annual Celebration of Lights Festival takes place before the Thanksgiving leftovers are even finished. Revelers are invited to join the fun from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Batavia Riverwalk, Houston Street and Island Avenue. Admission is free.
The highlight of the evening will be the Christmas Tree Lane, featuring 25 trees decorated by local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, businesses and civic organizations. The trees line the Riverwalk path, and make for a wonderful, winding stroll that all ages of family members can enjoy.
But the trees themselves are just the beginning.
The event features Santa Claus, the ceremonial lighting of the tree, traditional holiday treats and a story hour.
Batavia business owner Craig Foltos will play the master of ceremonies while professional performers lead a community sing-along of holiday favorites starting at 5:45 p.m. Mayor Jeff Schielke will welcome Santa at 6 p.m. for the tree-lighting ceremony. Then Santa will remain at the Peg Bond Center to greet children ages 10 and under with a free holiday stocking filled with treats while supplies last.
Until 7:30 p.m. there will be a family photo opportunity offered on the Peg Bond Center main stage, the scent of free roasted chestnuts will fill the air and tractor pulled hayrides will be offered. Admission to the hayride is a donation to the Batavia Food pantry.
Don't end your evening without stopping to purchase either baked goods, hot chocolate or hotdogs offered for sale by Batavia Firefighters Local 3436 and the Batavia Teen Center, before heading across the pond to the Depot Museum, where the Batavia Public Library will host story hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mistletoe Magic
The downtown Batavia area will again be lit up with holiday cheer from 5 to 9 p.m. the evening of Dec. 7 for a Batavia MainStreet sponsored Mistletoe Magic event. Area artists will display their work and musicians will perform holiday songs at various downtown locations, a free Santa photo will be offered and families can participate in a holiday-themed scavenger hunt.
"We wanted to hold a holiday event to showcase local businesses and encourage people to come downtown for the holidays," says Batavia MainStreet director Britta McKenna. "There was a Mistletoe Magic event in 2000, but this is the first time that it has been done since. We re-created the event to showcase downtown Batavia."
Musicians performing that evening include the Batavia United Methodist Church choir and keyboardist Dan Shanahan. Santa visits will be held at the new downtown Batavia Limestone Coffee and Tea beginning mid-afternoon and continuing throughout the evening.
The Batavia MainStreet Web site www.downtownbatavia.com will be updated with additional musicians and their locations, as well as the exact time frame that Santa will be available, closer to the event.
Also part of Mistletoe Magic is the Batavia Depot Museum's Yule Log Scavenger Hunt. The Yule Log is an ancient symbol of the holiday season, consisting of a large log burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in some cultures.
Batavia's scavenger hunt homage to the Yule Log tradition begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends with an activity, refreshments and the traditional log burning. Teams will gather at the Batavia Depot Museum and will be given a series of clues, whether historic, poetic or those that involve group participation, that ultimately leads to the hidden Yule Log.
Team registration is encouraged. Participants can register either by calling the Batavia Park District at (630) 879-5235, or visiting bataviaparks.org.