Uptown Westerville is a Place for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays Illuminates Uptown Westerville’s 2007 Holiday Season Uptown

Westerville lights up to welcome the 2007 holiday season with the city tree lighting, Santa Claus, free carriage rides, and extended shop hours. Sponsored by Westerville Parks and Recreation and the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association, Home for the Holidays weekend begins Friday, November 30th at 7 p.m., with the city tree lighting, and culminates with the annual Sertoma Christmas Children’s Parade at 1 p.m. on Sunday, December 2nd.

On Friday November 30th, visitors are invited to take in the sights and sounds of the holidays with the city tree lighting ceremony sponsored by Westerville Parks and Recreation and the Westerville Chamber of Commerce. The ceremony will feature music from the Westerville Community Band and Kinderchor. And, Westerville Sertoma is serving free cookies and hot chocolate in front of City Hall.

After the tree lighting, the Westerville Fire Department will be escorting a very jolly, very special Uptown Westerville guest: Santa Claus. Santa will be visiting with children throughout the evening and the Church of the Messiah bell choir will be performing to entertain guests waiting in line to see Santa.

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association is presenting free carriage rides from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The brick street carriage route takes visitors through local neighborhoods and past Otterbein College’s Towers Hall.

Carriage riders can vote for their favorite decorated homes along the carriage route. Guest judges include Westerville Mayor Diane Fosselman, Westerville Economic Development Coordinator Julie Colley, Westerville Parks and Recreation Program Manager Laura Horton, Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer, Westerville Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Mike Borowitz, and Westerville Uptown Merchants Association president Tim Bullock. The merchants association is awarding Uptown Westerville gift certificates to first and second place residences.

Uptown merchants have decorated their windows and shops for the season and will be open extended hours November 30th and all day December 1st. Many shops are offering holiday flavor, specials, and refreshments. In addition to shopping at the perennial uptown favorites, the Westerville Uptown Merchants Association invites visitors to check out the new uptown merchants.

Strike up the band on Sunday, December 2nd at 1 p.m., for the annual Sertoma Children’s Christmas Parade. This seasonal favorite moves north on State Street from Huber Village Boulevard, through Uptown Westerville.

WUMA member, Gallery 202 is sponsoring its annual Holiday Window decorating contest. Uptown windows are painted by Gallery 202 artists and uptown visitors can vote for their favorite window by dropping non-perishable food items off at each participating merchant throughout the holiday season. Food contributions will be donated to W.A.R.M. Additionally, Home for the Holidays visitors can contribute directly to W.A.R.M. on November 30th during carriage rides.

The Westerville Uptown Merchants Association thanks Home for the Holidays sponsors: Amish Originals Furniture Co., Edward Jones Investments, Gellner Insurance Services, Joe’s Automobile Repair, The Old Bag of Nails Pub, Suite 59 Hair Design, Uptown Pharmacy, Westerville Commercial Savings Bank, and Westerville Dental Associates.