Communities across the region, after recovering from last week’s Thanksgiving feasts, prepare for December’s holidays with several celebrations to get everyone into the season’s spirit. Regardless of where you live, there’s bound to be something holly and jolly going on in your area.
Crawford
The Town of Crawford will host its Country Christmas and Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Pine Bush. Throughout the afternoon and evening, attendees can enjoy the First Fridays vendor fair in Crawford Square and a Santa Squatch workshop at the PB UFO Museum. At 3 p.m. a tractor parade will roll through Main Street, featuring dozens of decorated vehicles.
The festivities will continue at 4:30 p.m. in the PB Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps on Center Street, where the PB Lions Club will host a pajama drive, offer refreshments and crafts, and help children write their wish lists. Several guests will perform and greet attendees, including Not Just Country Line Dancers, carolers from the PB Central School District music department, Boy Scout Troop 37, and Santa Claus himself. At 4:45 p.m., the Crawford town board will light the ambulance corps’ Christmas tree.
Village of Montgomery
The Village of Montgomery will host An Olde Fashioned Holiday on Saturday, December 14 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. throughout the village. The Montgomery Fire House will kick off the day with a tree and wreath sale, followed by the First Presbyterian Church’s “Soup to Go” sale between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. On Clinton and the municipal lot, residents can enjoy several vendors, food trucks, and activities between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
During the afternoon, several performers will sing holiday music at Village Hall. Santa will ride into the village on a fire truck at 2 p.m. and take free photos with families at the Clinton Street Bandstand until 5 p.m. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., Skip Chambers will offer Wagon Rides at Wallkill Avenue, the St. Mary’s Church Knights of Columbus will offer free hot chocolate, and the Presbyterian Church will present a Live Nativity. The day will conclude with an illuminated tractor parade at 4 p.m. and a tree lighting at the village hall around 5:15 p.m.
The village will continue the festivities with Operation Toy Train on Sunday, December 15 between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on the corner of Clinton Street and Railroad Avenue. This seasonal drive is a great opportunity for residents to donate new, unwrapped toys to children less fortunate in local communities. Santa and his elves will ride a train into the village at 12:45 p.m. to greet families and collect toys; during this pit stop, residents can also enjoy music, wagon rides, and holiday treats.
Walden
The Village of Walden, in partnership with the Walden Women’s Club and Walden Community Council, will host Christmas in the Square on Thursday, December 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Municipal Square. Musician Kevin Cronin will perform several holiday songs at 6:15 p.m., and the Freedom Road Bible Church will present a Live Nativity at 6:35 p.m. Following the nativity, the New York School of Music and Walden Elementary School Choir will perform more songs at 6:55 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. respectively. Santa will arrive at 7:35 p.m. and commence the village’s tree lighting.
Hamlet of Wallkill
Come out and join the fun for the 3rd annual Holidays in the Hamlet, put on by Vision of Wallkill on December 7 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Wallkill Public Library lawn.
Enjoy holiday music, watch the Tree Lighting and see Santa arrive on a fire truck. Stroll the lawn and visit with friends while you nosh, sip, and shop locally curated Hudson Valley artisans and food vendors. Depending on weather, conditions, fireworks at approximately 6:45 p.m. will end the event.
Please note: the pre-event Polar Express show is already sold out. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and visionofwallkill.com for more information.