Need something to do this weekend with the family in town?
Try building a new tradition with Seymour’s Home for the Holidays festival planned for Saturday.
The community’s annual Christmas event used to be on a Monday evening, but this year’s festivities are slated for Saturday from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. in downtown Seymour. It is presented in collaboration with the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce, Seymour Main Street, Seymour Oktoberfest, Inc. and the Seymour Parks and Recreation Dept.
“I feel like we have put together a pretty good day,” said Sasha Norman, an organizer with the chamber. “People can come and go as they please and we just wanted to get more people to the downtown area and see the new park.”
Norman said the event is great for people who visit Seymour for Thanksgiving and for those who don’t leave town.
“It’s Home for the Holidays because people come back to Seymour for Thanksgiving, and then people that don’t go out of town will also have something to do,” she said.
The biggest attraction is the parade of lights, which will begin downtown at 6 p.m.
It will start on Walnut Street by the Seymour Area Farmers Market, turn down Second Street, stop at Chestnut Street for judging and then proceed further down Second Street.
“Each entry has to have lights on it, whether it’s a float or people walking. They have to have some type of lighting,” Norman said.
Lights on trees downtown have already been put up, so the atmosphere will include a little holiday setting.
The event also will include familiar favorites like a trackless train, live reindeer, stories and vendors with a variety of new events.
Some new attractions include breakfast with Santa, movies and new vendors.
There also will be a tree lighting ceremony for the city’s Christmas tree.
It’s in conjunction with Small Business Saturday, so downtown businesses will have plenty of offerings for those looking to get a perfect local gift.
The best part about Home for the Holidays is everything is pretty much free except for Breakfast with Santa, which is $5 per meal.
The day begins with the breakfast, and shops in downtown Seymour will open at 10 a.m.
From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a showing of “The Polar Express” movie will be at the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour. Hot chocolate and candy canes will be provided during the movies.
From noon to 2 p.m., there will be trackless train rides and live reindeer and elves at Crossroads Community Park.
Another movie showing will take place at the library from noon to 2 p.m. with “A Christmas Story.”
At 3 p.m., Ray Eakins with Old National Bank will read Christmas stories to kids at the chamber office. Eakins will be dressed as Buddy the Elf from the 2004 film “Elf.” That portion of the event will include snacks for kids.
From 3 to 7 p.m., there will be vendor booths at Crossroads Community Park with entertainment from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Boys & Girls Club of Seymour will be doing face painting and Girls Inc. of Jackson County will have a selfie station at the park.
The tree lighting and Santa’s visit will take place at 7 p.m. following the parade.
It also will kick off Santa’s visits to downtown Seymour, which will be every Saturday until Christmas from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Crossroads Community Park.
The event is for families to build a new tradition and prepare for the most wonderful time of the year.
“I think this kicks off the holiday season,” Norman said. “We’d really love for everyone to come down to enjoy it.”
If you go
What: Home for the Holidays Christmas event
Where: Downtown Seymour
When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 24
8 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at Bullwinkle’s Family Restaurant, 117 E. Second St.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Stuff a Stocking, downtown shops open
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “The Polar Express” movie at the Jackson County Public Library
Noon to 2 p.m.: Trackless train at Crossroads Community Park
Noon to 2 p.m.: Silly Safaris reindeer and elves at Crossroads Community Park
2 to 4 p.m.: “A Christmas Story” movie at the library
3 to 7 p.m.: Vendor booths open at Crossroads Community Park
3 p.m.: Storytime at the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce
6 p.m.: Parade of lights
7 p.m.: Tree lighting and Santa’s arrival at Crossroads Community Park
To register for the parade, visit seymouroktoberfest.com/lights.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the event or having a vendor booth can contact Sasha Norman at 812-522-3681 or [email protected].
Visit Santa
Don’t miss Santa Claus at Crossroads Community Park this year.
Saturday: 7 p.m.
Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.