Greene County News

XENIA — Greene County Parks & Trails’ (GCP&T) popular Santa’s Holiday in the Park returns this year with several new festive features and will continue to create lifelong memories for families throughout the region.

The holiday festival will be held 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 to Saturday, Dec. 10 at James Ranch Park, 177 Fairground Rd.

Event attendees will park at the Fairgrounds Recreation Center, 210 Fairground Road, and be transported by a tractor-drawn wagon across the street to the event venue.

Back by popular demand, live reindeer will return to Greene County and be at the holiday event on Friday and Saturday evening from 6-9 p.m.

As always, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be greeting families within the 1800s brick home at James Ranch Park. Photographs will be available from betterImages with packages starting at $5 for a 5-by-7 print. Families may also take their own photographs or videos.

Within the historic home, letters to Santa may be written and mailed with assistance from the elves from Greene Memorial Hospital/Soin Medical Center. Temporary holiday tattoos will also be offered.

Walking of James Ranch Park will feature thousands of new LED lights for an even brighter holiday with more than 50 animated lighted displays placed throughout the park. Event attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately.

A new attraction this year will be the GCP&T Holiday Candy Shop where guests can purchase festive candy that will range from 25 cents to $1.

Activity and hospitality stations will be scattered throughout James Ranch Park and feature holiday favorites such as: Hot chocolate; Ornament-making with wooden ‘cookies’ created from ash trees removed from Greene County Parks & Trails sites (one per person); Ornaments made with pine cones; Small honeysuckle vine wreaths; Roaming holiday costumed; characters; (New) holiday wooden cut-outs for photographs and Kettle corn.

Sponsors of this year’s event include Greene Memorial Hospital/Soin Medical Center and betterImages, as well as the Old-Timers Club, Greene County Agricultural Society and Greene County Sanitary Engineering.

Donations of $1 per person are suggested with all funds raised invested back into the event for future years.

For more information, contact GCP&T at 937-562-6440, visit www.gcparksgtrails.com or email [email protected].

Submitted photos GCP&T Maintenance Lead Assistance Myles Halye helps unload the Santa’s Holiday in the Park Candy Store, which will be a new feature at this year’s event Dec. 7-10.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2016/12/web1_Santa1.jpgSubmitted photos GCP&T Maintenance Lead Assistance Myles Halye helps unload the Santa’s Holiday in the Park Candy Store, which will be a new feature at this year’s event Dec. 7-10.

Painting the new and additonal holiday photography display, GCP&T Maintenance Andrew Hoskins is part of the behind-the-scenes team that makes the event possible for families.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2016/12/web1_Santa2.jpgPainting the new and additonal holiday photography display, GCP&T Maintenance Andrew Hoskins is part of the behind-the-scenes team that makes the event possible for families.

Festive lights, wagon rides, live reindeer, holiday activities — as well as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus — create an event complete with magic and memories at GCP&T’s Santa’s Holiday in the Park.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2016/12/web1_Santa3.jpgFestive lights, wagon rides, live reindeer, holiday activities — as well as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus — create an event complete with magic and memories at GCP&T’s Santa’s Holiday in the Park.

Story courtesy of Greene County Parks & Trails.