Masontown church tours and Santa on the Square will return as one event
Masontown’s church tours and a visit from Santa will be combined for the first time on Dec. 3.
In the past four years, the Masontown Matters organization held borough Christmas like the Church Walking Tour where people will walk to participating churches where they’re given a history of the church and be treated to cookies and hot chocolate and carol singing as well as the Santa on the Square event.
Warren Hughes, the president of Masontown Matters, said for the latter event, children can meet with Santa and enjoy refreshments like chocolate-covered pretzels and watch the light-up event.
“Last year, we just did the Santa on the Square at the borough building,” Hughes said. “That went over really well, but a lot of people were asking about the church walk.”
Hughes said they combined the two events for 2017 with the Church Walking Tour beginning at 3 p.m. and Santa arriving at the square at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3.
“I know they really wanted to bring the church tours back, and I’m glad to see they did,” said Masontown Mayor Toni Petrus. “They’ve had very good success with Santa coming in. That’s something really nice for the town.”
Hughes said there’s nearly six churches participating for this year’s tour.
At the end of the tour along Main Street, Hughes said the participants will receive a ballot to cast their vote for the best window decorations.
“Then we’ll end up with Santa on the Square,” Hughes said, adding that St. Nick will arrive on horse and carriage at the borough building.
Hughes said the Santa on the Square event will be much like last year’s event that includes Santa flipping a switch with a special helper to light up the borough building’s 15-20 foot-tall Christmas tree.
“It really turned out nice,” Hughes said. “The parking lot was packed with children and their parents.”
He added that the church tours have increased from about 20 participants the first year to 30 two years ago.
Petrus is also excited to see the 12 recently purchased decorative lights be lit along Main Street for Dec. 3 as she was trying to raise money this past year to have the Christmas lights back when power was restored to the street poles.
“We’ve had a nice response with the donations,” Petrus said, adding they were able to get the lights on sale and with more donations coming in, they’ll have excess funds for more lights.
Petrus added they’re still waiting to get a cost proposal for additional electrical work and that would also need council approval, but hopes they can get the same Christmas lights on sale again for next year.
There’s no charge for any of the activities.