Oil City’s 16th annual Christmas Past is set to get underway next week.
The traditional holiday weekend will begin Thursday evening and extend through Saturday, Dec. 3.
“It is an annual favorite,” Oil City Main Street manager Kathy Bailey said. “We are expecting a good turnout as usual … One of the highlights will be the tree lighting ceremony.”
The ceremony, organized by the Oil City Rotary Club, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Town Square.
A Christmas concert featuring the Brothers McClurg will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Free Methodist Church on Wilson Ave. and donations will be accepted.
Friday’s events will take place in the Central Avenue Plaza. Paws 4 A Cause therapy dogs and a student art show will be at the Oil City Library from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The South Side Neighborhood Association will be selling food and drinks from 6 to 8 p.m. A chili cook-off will also be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the basement meeting room of the Oil City Library. Santa’s Playland will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and includes children’s activities, crafts and games, a bake sale and pictures with Santa. Santa arrives at 6:15 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church.
Saturday’s events include various craft shows, the Jingle Bell Run and more.
The Jingle Bell 5K run/walk will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in downtown Oil City. The cost is $25. The walk begins at the Town Square with registration and ends with awards at the National Transit Building. There will be awards for runners, walkers and the best Christmas-themed costume. Registration forms are available online at oilcitymainstreet.org under the Events and News tab.
A Victorian Christmas brunch will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Grace United Methodist Church. St. Stephen School’s breakfast with Santa will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and features various crafts and activities. The YWCA’s Sweet Treats cookie sale and craft show will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Belles Lettres Club’s Holiday Happening event featuring 22 vendors will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the club at 405 W. First St., Oil City.
The Victorian Christmas bazaar at the Oil City Knights of Columbus and the Victorian Christmas bazaar at Grace United Methodist Church both start at 10 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. The Venango Museum’s Community Christmas display runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and its novelties and craft show will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Artists will hold open studios at the National Transit Building from noon to 5 p.m.
More information is available online at oilcitymainstreet.org.
