67th Annual Licking County Courthouse Christmas Lighting Planned For November 27th

11/16/15 – News Release– For Immediate Use

    67th Annual Licking County Courthouse Christmas Lighting Planned For November 27th
     Our community has again fully supported the campaign to light and decorate the Courthouse for Christmastime.  The historic1876 Licking County Courthouse will be lighted and grounds will be fully decorated for the 2015 Christmas Season. 
   The community is invited to attend the Lighting Ceremony and the official start of the Holiday Season Friday evening, November 27th.  This traditional ‘night after Thanksgiving’ program will feature the annual holiday music program and sing-a-long, the excitement of Santa’s arrival, and the lighting of the local landmark.  A large crowd is always expected, so come downtown early and get a parking spot.  The County Parking Garage provides free parking on South Second Street, and the Square in downtown will be fully open to traffic!
        Festivities begin at 6:00pm on that Friday night.  The program will begin with longtime master of ceremonies Dave Lehman. A number of holiday favorites will be performed by singers Belinda Paisley, Shawna Corder, and Hugh Price.  Featured, for the 10th consecutive year, will be the Blessed Sacrament Combined Chorus under the direction of Christina Pultz Miller.  Also, performing on stage will be “The Heisey Brass”, a local quintet directed by Doug Moran and playing a variety of Christmas songs.  
    During the program the Courthouse Lighting Committee will salute the Newark Rodders Car Club for organizing the ‘2015 Lite the Nite Car Show’ in September and supporting Courthouse Lighting with a donation.  All of the lights this year will be the brighter and more colorful LED’s, saving energy and making for a great show in downtown Newark.
    The Newark Fire Department will assist with the arrival of Santa in downtown, which is anticipated just after 7:00pm. The ‘Jolly Old Elf’ will extend his best wishes to the community and with the help of the children will magically ‘light’ the colorful Courthouse decorations to officially begin the Christmas season in Licking County.  
     The Elves in Action will be downtown on the Square that evening to kick-off their annual holiday food drive. Volunteers will be located on the east side of the Square each evening until Christmas.  All food collected will be donated to and distributed by the Licking County Food Pantry Network.
      Also, on display that evening will be the local Salvation Army’s ’Worlds Largest Red Kettle’. This trailer mounted, eight foot high Red ‘Collection’ Kettle, is used to promote the annual ‘Salvation Army Red Kettle Christmas Campaign’ throughout the community in December.
      The Vineyard Church of Licking County will be at the Gazebo serving free hot chocolate and popcorn.  The church will also provide the very popular ‘live nativity’ that Friday evening on the south side of the Square near the colorful fountain.
     Following the ‘Lighting Ceremony’ Santa and his elves will be in the lobby of True Core Credit Union, on the northeast corner of the Square, for those who would like their children to meet Saint Nick.