EMPORIUM — Residents in Emporium are gearing up for the annual Weekend in the Wilds celebration set to be held today and Saturday.
The event will kick off this evening with the Holiday House Tour, featuring four beautiful homes on Fourth and Fifth streets in Emporium.
On West Fourth Street, visit the Hornung’s Victorian-style house and the home of Don and Mary Ives. On East Fifth Street, Brian and Crissy Slusarick and Don and Ann Olivett will both open their homes to visitors.
A limited number of tickets are available at a cost of $10 per person. They can be purchased at the Cameron County Chamber and Artisan Center or at Maureen’s Beauty Shop. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Fireworks Fund.
At the Cameron County High School, the Spanish Club will hold its annual Mexican Fiesta beginning at 5 p.m. Also during this event, the school’s band and chorus will perform the annual Christmas Concert, and the high school art program will hold its annual art show.
On Saturday morning, the festivities began with Breakfast with Santa at the Emporium Fire Hall on North Broad Street. Breakfast will be held from 9 until 11:30 a.m. Costs are $3 for children and $4 for adults. Proceeds go to the Emporium Volunteer Fire Department’s Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Beginning at 9 a.m., nearly 30 vendors will line Fourth Street offering a wide variety of products including hot foods and beverages, handmade and unique gift items, clothing, jewelry and contest items. Booths will remain open along Fourth Street until at least 1 p.m. Also being held is the Emporium Senior Center Craft Show, open from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday.
Many local stores will hold sidewalk sales in front of shops, and members of the high school band will man a booth for children to write Letters to Rudolph to benefit Project Pearl Harbor.
Children can head to Cappy’s Clothes near the corner of Fourth and Broad streets to make reindeer antlers to wear, and the Merry Music Makers will perform inside of the Chamber building beginning at 11 a.m.
At noon, be sure to head to Fourth Street to check out the Christmas Parade featuring the high school band, caroling, floats and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade begins at the former Emporium High School/Fourth Street School and ends in the Cameron County High School parking lot.
In the evening, the annual Community Benefit Dance will be held at the Cameron County Vets Club on East Third Street beginning at 8 p.m.
Proceeds from this year’s event will go to the families of Lilli Bailey and John Major, who are both battling health issues at this time.
In addition to the DJ and dance, games will be held and food and beverages will be available. Admission is $20 per person or $30 for a couple. Tickets are available at the door.
More information is available by visiting the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce and Artisan Center website.
