GALION, Ohio – The Come Home to Galion event Saturday night drew a record crowd to downtown Galion in spite of the windy weather.
Visitors were treated to an old-fashioned holiday celebration as they listened to jazz at the library, made ornaments, ate cookies and turkey noodle soup, road in horse-drawn carriages, heard Christmas music in the center of town, toured Brownella Cottage and learned a little history at the Galion Historical Museum. The festivities were toppped off with a parade, the arrival of Santa Claus and the lighting of the Christmas tree on the square.
The Galion Public Library was a beehive of activity. Downstairs children enjoyed two special story times with Bad Kitty listening in. Space was provided for creating Christmas Cards, ornaments, candy cane reindeer and snowflake badges. Upstairs patrons enjoyed punch and cookies while listening to holiday and jazz music. Cookies were donated by three local bakers: Bill’s Bakery, Tina Fruth and Claudia Snyder. The seven-piece jazz ensemble OH70 performed a variety of holiday music and jazz tunes.
“We are rapidly running out of raffle tickets,” said Cassie Nolan, activity director for the library. The raffle was for a Kindle Fire or a Leap Pad 3 Learning Tablet. Three hundred tickets were printed for the library’s open house and within the first hour more were needed. “We have a nice crowd for the jazz concert. This is a big turn out.”
The Creative Crafters were also upstairs with items for sale. All money went to the library. Nearby was the Angel Wish Tree and each gingerbread man ornament had a wish printed on it. Patrons were encouraged to pick an ornament and donate the wish. The wish tree will remain up during the holidays.
Patrons also voted for their favorite gingerbread house. Best of Show earned a $50 Barnes and Noble gift certificate.
Three churches set up outside on the square with hot food and drinks for those waiting for the parade. First Lutheran Church served hot chocolate with their theme for the day: “God’s love is free. Hot chocolate is free.” First United Church of Christ offered hot turkey noodle soup and a choice of coffee or hot chocolate. Galion Free Methodist Church offered chicken and noodles and ran out of food half-way through the afternoon.
The Santa house was open where children could sit and tell Santa their Christmas wishes.
Horse-drawn carriage rides ran most of the afternoon taking visitors to and from the library and Brownella Cottage and Museum. Carriage rides were provided by Pine Acres Carriage Service of Morral, Ohio.
Kit Walter acted as butler to welcome guests to tour the holiday-decorated Brownella Cottage. Visitors were given a pamphlet to help them understand the historic home as they walked the self-guided tour.
“It’s a great turn out considering the cold,” said historical society volunteer Trudy Kempf. “People look forward to this every year.”
In each room, volunteers were available to answer questions. In the religion room the Friends of the Big Four Depot were set up with a display and special cards for sale featuring the Big Four Depot decorated for Christmas.
Guests were then ushered through the walkway and out to the refurbished museum.
Linda Hoover, a volunteer at Brownella Cottage, said the carriage house museum has been opened up, cleared out, repainted and refurbished. There are new cabinets, new windows, and more lighting. Several businesses donated their time including Crossroads Candles, Heritage Home Goods, Toni’s Flower Shop and Flower Cart Florist.
All the activity culminated in the parade and the lighting of the Christmas tree on the square. The Santa House reopened for visitors and will have regular hours up until the week of Christmas.
