“We hosted the event for the first time last year and decided we needed to do to again this year,” said Lisa Behr, with Lagos and Lagos attorneys.
Mrs. Claus will be there for photos with participants and she will have free activity books for the children. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided by Catered by Visions for You, owned by Tammy Pressnell.
Many of the Bushnell building’s businesses – including Fountain on Main and Dollar Days General Store – will also be open the evening of the event. While stopping inside presents a great opportunity to warm up, Behr is hoping people will take note of the many offerings of the building’s permanent tenants.
“We encourage Holiday in the City visitors to walk through the building and see what we have to offer,” Behr said.
After Holiday in the City is over, Behr and the owners at Dollar Days General Store will team up to host a Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Dec. 8. Admission for children is $3 and adults are $5. Children younger than 3 are admitted free of charge. Families can register for the breakfast by calling Behr at (937) 324-2006 or emailing her at lisabehr@lagoscentral.com.
“The cost is reasonable,” Behr said, “so families won’t feel like they can’t afford to come.”
There will be a scavenger hunt, a magician and a painting exhibition. Stockings will be given away, but the most exciting feature for the children might be the Secret Santa shopping at Dollar Days.
“Children will be escorted by a Christmas elf and can shop at the store,” Behr said. “Then they can take their wrapped presents home and put them under the Christmas tree.”
Parents will sit outside and keep an eye on the shoppers without spoiling any surprises.
A canned food raffle will also be held to benefit the Clifton Avenue Church of God Food Pantry. A raffle ticket will be given for each can of food brought to the breakfast and prizes will be chosen throughout the day. Behr and Felicia McAfee organized a pie raffle to raise money to offset the admission costs and any remaining funds will be used to purchase perishable food for the food pantry.
“Any extra money will go to buy Thanksgiving dinner items like turkeys and hams,” Behr said. “The more we can put toward the church, the better.”
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