BY JENNIFER CROWLEY
Business and community groups in Scottsville and Wheatland are busy making preparations to welcome Santa Claus back to town. The 2018 Parade of Lights celebration, an all-day event kicking-off the holiday season in the southwestern corner of Monroe County, will be Saturday, December 1st. This year the event turns ten and planners at the Greater Wheatland Area Chamber of Commerce say that the day is shaping up to be one of the best and busiest yet.
Main Street activities are scheduled to start at noon with kid-friendly crafting events at the Scottsville Free Library and its neighbor, the Wheatland Senior Center. New this year is a Santa Claus “matinee” session starting at 1:00 PM for families interested in getting time with St. Nick ahead of the evening rush. For any family needing to get a bit more in the spirit before hitting Main Street, the Union Presbyterian Church on Browns Avenue will be hosting a Christmas Cinema & Soup Buffet starting at 12:30 PM with a showing of A Christmas Story; holiday movies will run until 6:00 PM that evening.
Any kids in search of an adrenaline rush should head over (with or without Nerf gear) to Canawaugus Park for a foam dart battle (2:00-4:00 PM). Run back over to Main Street afterwards to chase down a sugar rush by joining in a candy cane hunt (various local businesses, 4:00-6:00 PM). Add in a magician, hot cocoa, and s’mores, and the kids should have no trouble staying busy until the big man arrives.
“This year’s Parade of Lights has grown to include a number of new and exciting things, with an expanded focus on kids’ events, food offerings, and music. We’ll also be presenting the first ever Town Hall of Fame inductees. This event has come a long way in ten years, and we can all be proud to showcase the best of what our community is about,” offered Carl Schoenthal, proprietor of The Artisan Coffeehouse, speaking on behalf of the Greater Wheatland Area Chamber of Commerce.
As for what Schoenthal and the event planners have in store for the older crowd, the historical Sage Marlowe House will be open starting at 2:00 PM with tours provided by members of the Wheatland Historical Association. Anyone feeling a bit chilled can warm up with a Blue Toad Hard Cider Hot Toaddie while waiting for a horse-drawn carriage ride up Main Street. Further adding to the Victorian holiday essence will be roaming carolers and a winter market sale featuring wares by local artisans (held in the Senior Center). A glass blower will be creating custom handmade ornaments as well.
Given that an estimated 1,000 people attended last year’s event, food options will be plentiful in 2018. The Artisan Coffeehouse, Salvatore’s Saloon and iKON Ice Cream will all be open for business. Additionally, two area food trucks, Cozy Kitchen’s Comfort Food and Macarollin’, will be parked at the Artisan and serving reubens, grilled cheese, chili, tacos, and much more.
Once the clock strikes 6:00 PM, the night kicks into high gear. The very sparkly parade of fire trucks will feature nine different local fire companies this year as well as floats, and for the first time ever, Kelley’s Heroes Marching Band. After Santa Claus arrives atop one of the engines, he will make his way from the procession and into his chair and then all eyes will turn to Salvatore’s Saloon, where the holiday light display never fails to impress, for a roof-top tree lighting.
Santa will visit with children until 8:00 PM. Other evening events capping off the celebration include an open skate at the Scottsville Ice Arena from 7:00-9:00 PM and finally, a Main Street fireworks finale sponsored by Home Comfort Heating and Cooling (8:00 PM).
As the Parade of Lights is a community event styled to bring neighbors together in the spirit of the holidays, there will be several charitable opportunities to come prepared for. A wreath sale will benefit the Trees for Troops program while Toys for Tots will be on site accepting toy and monetary donations throughout the evening at the library. Anyone who donates to Toys for Tots has a chance to win a toy through a raffle sponsored by the Wheatland-Chili PTA, also at the library. As for more locally focused charity sales, a Boy Scout troop will be selling popcorn, a Brownie troop will be selling keychains to benefit The Kael Nicolosi Foundation, and the Rotary will be holding a wine raffle.
Though most scheduled events are held on or near Main Street, there are off-site activities that will be served via free bus transportation from stops that include the Scottsville Ice Arena, Johnson Park, and the T.J. Connor school where event-goers are encouraged to park. Main Street will be closed starting in the afternoon so residents should plan travel and parking accordingly.
