Holiday kickoff won't include courthouse lighting

• The annual celebration will include food, craft vendors, fireworks, Santa, Christmas tree lighting.
• The event will feature the first Christmas Market, at 3-8 p.m. Nov. 25, at the Canal Market Plaza.

NEWARK - The 68th annual Christmas lighting of the courthouse the day after Thanksgiving will include everything except actually lighting the courthouse, which is undergoing extensive renovations.

The Nov. 25 downtown celebration will include Christmas decorations on the courthouse lawn, food and craft vendors at the Canal Market Plaza, fireworks launched from atop a downtown building, the arrival of Santa Claus on a fire truck, and the lighting of a large Christmas tree at the plaza.

The Courthouse Christmas Lighting Committee and Canal Market District made a joint announcement Tuesday at the Licking County commissioners' office.

"It's the first year since we've had the Courthouse Lighting Committee, we're not going to light the courthouse," Commissioner Tim Bubb said. "We think it will be an appropriate kickoff for the Christmas season. Some people will be disappointed, but I think most people will understand."

The day will feature the first Christmas Market from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Canal Market Plaza, one block south of the Courthouse Square, with arts, crafts, food and local farmers selling Christmas trees, greens, wreaths and decorations.

The Canal Market Plaza opened this year, providing a farmers market twice a week during the summer.

"We support our agriculture heritage," Canal Market Manager Bryn Bird said. "We want to use the Canal Market to celebrate the other parts of our agriculture. Licking County has some of the most robust Christmas tree farming in the state. It's part of our agriculture."

Jazz Glastra, the Canal Market District operations director, said 30 to 35 craft vendors will participate, and people are already getting excited about the event.

"We already know lots of crafts vendors and people are going to be interested," Glastra said. "They're excited about being able to participate in this."

A holiday music program begins at 6 p.m. at the Reese Pavilion in the Canal Market Plaza.

Santa will adjust his traditional route to arrive at 7:15 p.m. at the plaza, instead of the east side of the Courthouse Square. After the celebration, Santa will move to the Courthouse Square, where he visit with children.

The Christmas Market was being planned as a separate event, Bubb said, but the courthouse construction forced a change in the traditional courthouse event.

"I look at this as an enhanced event," Bubb said. "Why shouldn't the two events really coincide? This is probably the perfect year to do it. I didn't want this year to be a downer because the courthouse won't be lit."

Glastra said the Canal Market is planning other possible events in 2017, including a pig roast, fall festival or apple festival.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @kmallett1958