Holiday events abound in Licking County after last year's hiatus
After this year's holiday season was kicked off by the annual courthouse lighting in Licking County on Friday, there are still plenty of events countywide to celebrate.
Between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. on Saturday, Granville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Christmas candlelight walking tour. Rather than kids meeting with Santa directly, he'll do a driving tour throughout the Granville community on a designated route from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
More: Granville's Christmas Candlelight Walking Tour returns to normal in 2021
Beginning mid-November, Wonderlights Christmas in Ohio will be on display between 5:30-10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5:30-11 p.m. Fridays through Sundays at the Hartford Fairgrounds near Croton. The lights are open rain or shine and online reservations are required. The cost is $7 for an individual and $30 for a carload of up to seven people. Tickets can be purchased online at WonderlightsChristmas.com.
National Trail Raceway will be hosting Magical Lights of Winter beginning Nov. 15 through Jan. 9 at a cost of $30 per vehicle. The event also requires online reservations through the Magical Lights of Winter website. The event is open 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Tickets can be purchased through MagicalLightsOfWinter.com.
On Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 from 6-9 p.m., Dawes Arboretum will host its fourth annual Winter Wonders Walk for the year, featuring its paved Parkwoods Trail surrounded by illuminated trees and nature's beauty during winter.
Registration for the walks are required and opened on Nov. 1. Members and non-members must pre-purchase a ticket or reserve a time online as tickets will not be sold at the date. The walk is about one mile and shuttle vans are not available.
The Davis-Shai House will hold a Making Spirits Bright Christmas open house from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 11. The event is free for admission and includes horse-drawn carriage rides, tours of the house decorated for Christmas, a live show featuring local choirs and instrumentalists, Santa Claus arriving by Heath firetruck, and more.
Shuttle buses will be provided during the event to carry guests from the Gordon Food Service parking lot to the house.
In Pataskala, the annual Main Street Christmas Cookie Walk will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday. According to the event page, 400 families will be asked to make a $10 minimum donation to the Storehouse for Jesus Food Pantry in exchange for a large cookie walk tote bag, a cookie walk magazine with a map of the route and a boarding pass.
More: Christmas celebrations return to Pataskala in full force
Families will walk around an approximately quarter-milk route collecting a cookie from each stop. The cookie walk will run until 6 p.m. and will be followed by the Pataskala Lions annual lighted Christmas parade. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page.
Heath's 22 Acres Farm is hosting A Country Christmas event from 4-9 p.m. on Dec. 2-3 and Dec. 9-10, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 11. According to their social media accounts, the cost for entry will be $15 per vehicle.
The event will feature a horse-drawn carriage, nativities from around the world, a photo booth on an old fashioned sled, hot chocolate bar at The Honey Hive, food trucks, a live petting zoo, train set, local vendors and small businesses in the barn and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The owners are asking people to bring a new unwrapped toy for their community toy drive, which will benefit the Salvation Army.
At Van Buren Acres in the Hebron area, their Christmas on the Farm event will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5. Santa will be on site from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will include several vendors and artisans, photo opportunities, and the country store will be open. They are also accepting toy donations for the West Licking Firefighter toy drive.
At Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, the Makers & Shakers Christmas Market will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 4 including gifts, crafts, food, wine, beer, and surprises from Santa. There is a $5 entry fee and free shuttles will be available to downtown Granville from the hotel.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Holiday events abound in Licking County after last year's hiatus
