Bradford’s Old Fashioned Christmas is set for Saturday, with a merry list of festivities that represent the spirit of the holiday season. The Winter Wine Walk is also on tap, which has the potential of fun with a side of holiday shopping.
For those who aren’t yet feeling the holiday spirit, a visit to Old-Fashioned Christmas will provide the chance to enjoy Christmas music, find the perfect gifts while shopping, have presents wrapped for you, donate to good causes and even a chance to ice skate merrily. Meanwhile, carolers will make the rounds, and a carriage ride, complete with jingle bells on the horses, will brighten the day.
“We are excited about (having carolers). We have tried to have carolers in the past, and this year someone contacted us,” said Sara Matzner, Main Street/Elm Street coordinator. “The carriage rides are back this year. They are always very popular.”
Matzner explained the carriage rides will be given by a new group this year, who are coming from Cuba, N.Y.
Begin the day with Breakfast with Santa, held from 8 to 11 a.m. at Beefeaters Restaurant. For a fee, children can enjoy a meal with their favorite jolly old elf.
Next, head to the Main Street Movie House for a free viewing of “The Polar Express,” which starts at 11 a.m.
Mrs. Claus will be settling in at On the Side Books from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a “Storyland with Mrs. Claus” experience.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Main Street will offer a variety of activities. These include horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating in the PNC Bank Parking lot, a gift wrapping station at Moments to Remember (donation requested which will benefit Bradford Area High School Cheerleaders), a chance to Make-a-Gingerbread Man (a festive craft but not the edible version) at Little Fabric Garden, food and drink vendors set up for a bite to eat and performances by the Queen B Dancers at 1 and 2 p.m.
The ice skating is a new event this year, free for anyone who is interested.
“There is a company coming from Maryland. They bring a synthetic rink and skates. It is free for the public. Stan Pecora, owner of the PNC Bank building, generously allowed us to use the parking lot,” Matzner said.
She explained holiday music will be playing, and a hot cocoa stand will be set up nearby, manned by members of the Bradford Blizzard U12 Travel Team, who will benefit from the proceeds.
During these festivities, the Main Street businesses offer various discounts and in-store specials, so be sure to make the rounds and get some holiday shopping done. The Holiday Artisan Market at 62 Main St. (entrance is on Chamber Street) will be open, and in addition to various local artisans the Bradford Raptors Youth Football Team will be holding a bake sale at that location.
“We are very grateful to our sponsors. We couldn’t do any of this without so much support,” Matzner noted.
The day isn’t over once 3 p.m. rolls around. With registration at 3:30 p.m. and the event itself beginning at 4 p.m. and running through 8 p.m., the Winter Wine Walk will provide a great opportunity to get more holiday shopping done while sampling wares from 12 wineries at the same time.
Complimentary porter service will be available, and that includes store merchandise. This makes for a great chance to get holiday shopping done and have the purchases transported for your convenience. The wineries visiting include, with their location:
• Allegheny Cellars Winery (Country Charm)
• Bear Creek Wineries (Little Fabric Garden)
• Brokenstraw Valley Winery (On the Side Books)
• Buddy Boy Winery (ERA Team VP Real Estate)
• Deer Creek Winery (Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce)
• DeLong Enterprises/Triple Nickel Distillery (Wright’s Music Shed)
• Flickerwood Wine Cellars (Michelle’s Flair for Hair)
• Laurel Mountain Winery (Graham Florist)
• Presque Isle Wine Cellars (Moments to Remember)
• Wagon Wheel Wines (McKean County Arts Council)
• Wapiti Ridge Wine Cellars (Julie’s Ever After)
• Winery at Wilcox (Main Street Mercantile)
Tickets are $20 presale and $25 the day of the event. Sales continue Friday at the following locations: Michelle’s Flair for Hair, Main Street Mercantile, Wright’s Music Shed, Northwest Bank (Main Street & East Main Street locations) and Bella Capelli Salon. The tickets are also available online at www.eventbrite.com.
