EMPORIUM — Cameron County’s Christmas in the Wilds event is scheduled for today and Saturday in Emporium.
This evening, a Make-It and Take-It kids craft event is being offered from 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Emporium. Crafts will be provided for kids to complete and wrap for their parents at no cost.
The Holiday House Tour is also being held this evening. Tickets are required and are limited in number. Anyone who reserved tickets can pick them up this evening beginning at 5 p.m. at Flowers N’ Things in Emporium. The tour includes three homes and two businesses this year.
On Saturday morning, Breakfast with Santa will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Emporium Volunteer Fire Department Hall on North Broad Street. Some of Santa’s reindeer will be hanging on North Cherry Street to visit with children throughout the day. Vendors will also open at 9 a.m., with nearly 30 food and gift vendors signed on for the event as of early this week. An indoor craft show is being held at the Emporium Senior Center beginning at 9 a.m. Soup and beverages will also be sold.
The annual Christmas in the Wilds Parade will step off at noon, featuring the Cameron County High School Marching Band and Santa Claus.
Throughout the day, families can have their holiday photography done at a display on South Cherry Street featuring a decorated backdrop. The display is being provided through CDH Kitchen and Bath Designs and members of the Christian Missionary Alliance (CMA) Church Youth Group.
There will be two warming areas set up along Fourth Street during Christmas in the Wilds. A fire ring supplied by Rich Valley Burners will be set up along North Cherry Street, and a fire pit courtesy of CMA Church congregation will be in the large lot next to the Midtowne.
At the Cameron County Chamber, tickets can be purchased for the basket raffle and the drawing for an autographed Bucknell University basketball jersey to benefit the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade basketball program. The drawing will be held Saturday afternoon. Also, bids can be entered on quilts as part of the Squares for Charity benefit, with funds to benefit various local charities including the Driftwood Senior Center, Cameron County SPCA, and the Cameron County Community Chest.
The house decorating contest will also begin as of Saturday evening, with 12 participating locations registered across the county. Prizes this year are bigger than in previous years thanks to support from the Hygrade Inn in Emporium, bumping the first-place prize up to $200, and also allowing for three lucky voters to be randomly selected to win $100 each.
Voting on the homes is free to all participants, but a voter number must be received from the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce in order to participate in online voting. Paper ballots can be used, available in the Echo or by visiting the Chamber.
This year, a bus will be available on Dec. 13 to transport voters around to see all of the decorated homes. Cookies will be provided, but riders are asked to bring their own beverages. There is no charge to ride the bus, but all interested individuals are asked to contact the Chamber to reserve a spot and get an accurate head-count to ensure there are enough seats.
