City gears up for Come Home to Galion

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GALION — A new Galion tradition continues next week when the city, area residents, former residents and friends and family celebrate another Come Home for the Holidays event in Uptowne Galion.

It’s all happening Dec. 3, starting about 1 p.m. when there will be plenty of food and entertainment available in and around the square at the intersection of Harding Way and Portland way.

From 1-3 p.m. there will be a Polynesian-themed open house at Galion Public Library, which also is having a gingerbread house-decorating contest.

There will be carriage and wagon rides by Pine Acres Carriage Service traveling a loop between the library and Brownella Cottage, where the Galion Historical Society also will be having an open house, starting at 1 p.m.

Also at the library will be Polynesian Island Hula dancing starting at 1 p.m. by Hula Fusion. Island Jeff will provide island steel pan drum music from 2-3 p.m. There will be refreshments, including punch and cookies from local bakers.

There will be lots of activities for kids, including two special story times in the Children’s Room, at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Crafts, with an island theme and an opportunity to donate to the library’s Giving Tree. The library staff has made its “wish list” for materials and/or supplies for the library to use to serve the community. These requests will be placed on the tree in the lobby for patrons to view. Those who take and fill a request will be considered “Angels” by the staff.

There also will be a Creative Crafters table in which talented individuals will display hand-made items for the public to buy.

The gingerbread house contest is a way to start your holiday season by making a bit of edible art. Let your imagination go wild. Entries can be brought to the library starting Saturday. Entrants may use any edible ingredient to construct their “gingerbread” houses and bonus points will be given to creations that are “island-themed” to fit our Polynesian Island themed Open House. Entries to a gingerbread house contest will be on display for public viewing. Judges will award first- and second-place prizes for each category, and a grand prize for “Best in Show” will be determined by popular vote.

Also scheduled is “Star Wars” at the Gill House. This event, from 1-3 p.m., encourages participants to come to the Gill House, 342 Harding Way West, dressed as a Star Wars character. There will be crafts and photo opportunities and at 4 p.m., characters can ride in the annual Christmas parade.

The open house at the Galion Historical Society, at West Walnut and South Union streets, is 1-3:30 p.m. The open house includes Brownella Cottage, the study, the Carriage House Museum and the Historic Grace Church. There also will be a live nativity scene.

The annual parade, which drew hundreds last year, starts at 4:15 p.m. The parade route is from Heise Park to Uptowne Galion. The grand marshal Vic Smith. Santa Claus is also expected to make and appearance.

The Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will be after parade on the square and is expected to include Miss Ohio Sarah Hider.

You also can join in the Great Elf Hunt. Mischievous elves will be hiding in Uptowne Galion during Come Home to Galion on Dec. 3 from 1-5 p.m. Look for more information on the elf hunt and other Come Home to Galion activities next week in the Inquirer and on GalionInquirer .com.

Staff report

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