By Linda Collins
Fairborn Daily Herald
ENON — “Tis the season to be jolly,” and that certainly rings true as several organizations in the Village of Enon gear up for a number of festivities over the next two weekends.
The Enon United Methodist Church (EUMC), located at 85 Broadway Road, will kick off the holiday season as church members host their annual breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 in Roth Hall.
Local children will be served a free continental breakfast and will have the opportunity to take part in several holiday activities, as well as enjoy a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras along and snap some treasurable photos. According to EUMC Administrative Assistant Sharee Nieder, Santa must leave for the North Pole at 10:30 a.m. However, crafts, music and story reading will continue until 11 a.m.
Later, Saturday evening, Santa will ring in the holiday season as he makes his grand appearance at the Enon Community Historical Society’s (ECHS) annual tree-lighting ceremony at the Enon Log House, 45 Indian Drive. Everyone is encouraged to dress warm for the event that will begin at 6:45 p.m., with Christmas carols led by the Greenon High School choir.
As the community sings “Here Comes Santa Claus,” Santa will arrive via a police escort a few minutes past 7 p.m. and will then join a distinguished citizen of the village for the ceremonial tree lighting of the village Christmas tree and the singing of “Silent Night.”
“It is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Santa always arrives in a unique way each year which is a big surprise for everyone,” ECHS member Ann Armstrong-Ingoldsby said.
Following the tree-lighting ceremony, children will have an opportunity to share their Christmas wish list with Santa as he nestles in front of an open fire in the restored 1830s log house. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the memorable occasion.
In addition, the public is invited to enjoy hot chocolate, cider and cookies in the Mike Barry Research Center, which is located next door to the log house. Local keyboardist John McElroy will also be playing a number of Christmas favorites throughout the evening, and members of the community will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of Christmas gifts at the ECHS gift shop.
Supporters of the Enon Community Historical Society’s tree lighting ceremony and visit with Santa Claus include the Village of Enon, the Enon Police Department, Enon/Mad River Township Fire and EMS, Adkins Funeral Home and the Greenon High School choir.
However, if community members cannot make the arrival of Santa on Saturday, Dec. 3, they are still in luck.
The Enon and Mad River Township Fire and EMS Department will carry on a favorite holiday tradition, as the Enon Santa Parade visits village and township neighborhoods on Friday, Dec. 9.
According to Fire and EMS Chief Tracy Young, all fire trucks will be decorated for the holidays as they roll out of the fire station at 6 p.m. with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s elves on board. Young noted that the department would be posting the parade route on its Facebook and Twitter pages in the coming week. The parade procession is expected to last until 10 p.m.
“The fire trucks will be all lit up, and our sirens will be screaming,” Young said.
