For some people, the holiday season began as soon as the Halloween decorations came down.
But in Licking County, it begins when the courthouse in the heart of downtown Newark lights up like a giant Christmas tree each year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
It’s one of the oldest holiday kickoff traditions in central Ohio, stretching back 76 years, and last week, workers were installing the many decorations and lights that will create holiday magic on Nov. 29.
Each year, a large crowd of children, parents and grandparents — many of whom attended the free event when they were children — gather on the courthouse lawn and around Courthouse Square by 6 p.m. on the Friday after Thanksgiving to begin singing Christmas carols.
By 7 p.m., a Newark fire truck carrying Santa Claus will arrive, and the crowd will roar with cheers and applause as he wades through the sea of families toward the courthouse.
As tradition holds, Santa climbs a long flight of stairs, turn to the crowd and calls for help in lighting the darkened stone building – the centerpiece of downtown Newark built in 1876.
“On the count of three,” he will call out, “Yell ‘Merry Christmas!’”
It never works the first time.
Children giggle and gird for another try.
And after two or three shouts of Merry Christmas! – each louder than the last – the lights flicker on and usher in the holiday season.
This year, holiday favorites will be performed by local musical artist Barefoot McCoy, and the “The Heisey Brass,” a local quintet directed by Doug Moran, will play a variety of Christmas favorites, according to a release from the Courthouse Lighting Committee.
And prior to the events on Courthouse Square, the nearby Canal Market District will host its annual Christmas Market, featuring holiday decorations, market food vendors, crafts and food trucks from 3 to 6:30 p.m. just south of the square between Canal and Market Streets.
Immediately following the Courthouse Lighting, Santa will visit with children at the TrueCore Federal Credit Union downtown branch.
And “Elves in Action” from the Licking County Food Pantry Network will be on the square throughout the evening – and every evening until Christmas – for their annual holiday food drive. Volunteers will take donations to be distributed to those in need by the food pantry network.
The courthouse will remain lighted for the holidays through Jan. 1. For more details about the Nov. 29 lighting event, go to the Courthouse Lighting Committee’s website or Facebook page.