Published: November 18, 2009 09:22 am      

Annual Christmas on the Square set for Nov. 27

The third annual Christmas on the Square is set for 3-6 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Hendricks County Courthouse square in downtown Danville.

“Christmas on the Square is such a wonderful day-after Thanksgiving tradition for residents and out-of-town visitors,” Amanda Jensen, president of the Downtown Danville Partnership, said.

During the traditional hometown Christmas celebration, the shops on the square will be open and hosting children’s activities. Beginning at 3 p.m., guests can enjoy Christmas carols, performances by local organizations, free games and crafts, raffle prizes, Christmas story readings, and carriage rides.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will light the square to officially welcome the Christmas season at 6 p.m. Children ages 12 and younger will be able to enter a drawing to see which lucky boy or girl will help Santa “flip the switch” to light up the town square. Afterwards, everyone is welcome to follow Santa’s “sleigh” to the official opening of the Winterland light show in Ellis Park.

Laura Parker, assistant town manager and one of the organizers of the event, said, “Hundreds of man-hours are spent decorating and preparing the town square for this special event. And it’s not just the town — every merchant, business, and property owner located on the square spends time decorating their windows or storefronts. Many also plan fun activities to help create a truly memorable experience for the families who choose to join us. When today’s busy families have so many options during the holidays, we are delighted to offer an old-fashioned, relaxed atmosphere where people can connect with family and friends without having to leave their own hometown square.”

The Downtown Danville Partnership is a volunteer organization whose mission is to develop, promote, and sustain Danville’s historic courthouse square as “Hendricks County’s downtown,” the county’s gathering place and its retail, civic, entertainment, and government center. The partnership works to make downtown enhancements a priority for the community, harnessing the strengths and talents of organizations and individuals and promoting collaboration and enthusiasm among all sectors who work on and in downtown.

For more information on this and other events in the area, visit the websites www.visitdowntowndanville.com or www.HendricksCountyCalendar.com or call the Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 321-9666.