EMMAUS, Pa. — To celebrate the holiday season, the borough will transform for its annual Old Fashioned Christmas on Saturday, featuring ice carving, crafts, food and drink — and even live reindeer.
Led by the Emmaus Main Street Partners group of businesses — a partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce — events are planned throughout town and its businesses.
The idea is to bring holiday cheer and get people from all over the Lehigh Valley engaged with borough businesses.
The day kicks off at noon with the "Cheers Trail," an adult-only (21+) trail that guides ticket-holders to various businesses to "sip, stroll and shop" until 5 p.m.
Differing from past years, two trail experiences will be offered, with the "red trail" showcasing stops including the East Penn Diner, Triple Sun and the Emmaus Historical Society.
The "green trail" will include Let's Play Books, Capo & Co, Soul Sisters and Yergey Brewing. Full details of the trails can be found on the chamber website.
“We are excited to bring both residents and guests to spend a full day here in Emmaus to kick off the holiday season,” Emmaus Main Street Manager Hayden Rinde said in a news release.
“Our mission is to help drive economic growth for the businesses in our community as well as provide unique experiences for those who live in the Lehigh Valley, and the Cheers Trail, along with the Old Fashioned Christmas celebrations, helps us accomplish both of these goals.”
Passport pickup for ticket-holders will be from noon to 1 p.m. at Kleckner & Sons, 575 Chestnut St.
For children and families, a "Candy Cane Lane" trail will be available, featuring crafts opportunities at Emmaus Public Library, Knauss Homestead, Emmaus Historical Society and the newly renovated Emmaus Borough Hall.
Let's Play Books also will hold a Christmas storytime event at 2 p.m., along with coloring and Christmas activities 1-4 p.m.
Starting at 4 p.m., the headliner events at Triangle Park will begin, featuring live reindeer, hayrides, an ice carver and live performances.
At 4:30 p.m., children will be able to decorate a tree with ornaments made at stops on the Candy Cane Trail at the park.
Photo opportunities also will be available with many winter icons, including Santa Claus, Buddy the Elf and Elsa from "Frozen."
At 6:30 p.m., festivities will culminate with a tree-lighting at Triangle Park.
The Emmaus Theatre will hold screenings of the 2018 version of "The Grinch," at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission is free with the donation of a canned good.
Schedule of events:
- Noon - 5 p.m. — Cheers Trail ($30 in advance, $40 at the door)
- Noon - 4 p.m. — Candy Cane Lane
- 2 p.m. Christmas Storytime at Let's Play Books Bookstore
- 3 p.m. — Emmaus Theatre showing of "The Grinch." (Free with donation of canned good)
- 4 - 7 p.m. — Old Fashioned Christmas Festivities at Triangle Park
- 6:30 p.m. — Triangle Park tree lighting
- 7 p.m. — Second showing at the Emmaus Theatre of "The Grinch." (Also free with the donation of a canned good)
More about these events can be found on the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce website.
Alburtis, Macungie festivities to follow
Emmaus' Old Fashioned Christmas is set to be followed by other nearby celebrations and festivities in the coming days and weeks.
Directly following the Emmaus festivities on Sunday, December 10, the Borough of Alburtis will be host to a series of events for a new holiday festival.
Horse-drawn surrey rides will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Borough Hall at $5 for adults and $3 for children.
From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Alburtis Area Community Center will hold a breakfast with Santa and Crafts Corner.
It will be joined by open raffles and gift shopping at vendor tables, which continues until 1 p.m., and a dance performance by the AACC Dance Connection at noon.
Businesses throughout town will hold events including pet photos with Santa, a fitness course and food.
The Alburtis Lockridge Historical Society will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for an open house, and will hold a cookie baking contest and Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas Caroling starting at 2 p.m.
Alburtis Park and the Alburtis Fire Company will have Santa for photos with kids starting at 2 p.m., with the Lower Macungie Middle School Chorus performing at 4:15 p.m.
The final tree lighting will happen at 5 p.m. at Alburtis Park.
For more information, see the Borough of Alburtis' Facebook page.
The next weekend on December 9, Macungie will hold a scavenger hunt throughout the town from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A craft show also will be open at Macungie Memorial Park from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
See more information on Macungie's holiday festivities here.
