Like a tree that grows from a small seed, Manchester’s Christmas in the Village – scheduled each year on the first Friday night and Saturday of December – had humble beginnings.

“There was a group of community members, a group of women, who started a craft show out of their house in the 1990s,” said Jennifer Wojtowicz, Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce President. “It’s just grown from there.”

Now the town-wide, two-day holiday extravaganza always starts with a parade on Friday night. “Santa brings up the rear of the parade, which ends at Wurster Park, and from there, kids get in line and get a professional photo, taken for free, with Santa,” said Wojtowicz. “A lot of families use that picture for their Christmas cards. And on Saturday, all of our local businesses get involved, with all kinds of fun things and opportunities: specials and sales, open houses, a scavenger hunt, a cookie contest, and a cookie sale – which is a fundraiser for the chamber – and face painting. There’s going to be an ugly sweater holiday happy hour that all the restaurants will be participating in from two to four, … a chili cook-off … and this will be the second year that the school’s cross country team will put on a run called the Reindeer Trail Run.” READ THE REST HERE