Hometown Christmas Set for Saturday in Downtown Effingham

Santa's arrival will be among the highlights during Saturday's Hometown Christmas celebration in downtown Effingham.

Santa is to arrive downtown at 4pm Saturday. The Effingham County Historical Museum will have tours in the former Courthouse between 4 and 7:15pm.

Musical entertainment will include On High from 4 to 4:45pm, FACE Orchestra from 5 to 6pm, and FACE Singers from 6 to 6:30pm.

Courthouse lawn activities will include free hot chocolate sponsored by Crisis Nursery, free coffee sponsored by Martin's IGA+, food stands from 4 to 7pm including kettle corn, funnel cakes, fries, pork rinds and corn dogs, a live nativity sponsored by Cornerstone Christian Church from 4 to 7pm, musical entertainment in the gazebo area including Glorify from 4 to 4:45pm sponsored by Mason Christian Church and Grey Hounds from 5 to 5:45pm.

There will be free carriage rides from 4:30 to 5:30pm, holiday characters including Frosty the Snowman, Peppermint Patty and The Grinch, luminary bags sponsored by Crisis Nursery, and the lighting of the Christmas Tree by Mayor Jeff Bloemker at 5pm.

There will also be activities at the County Office Building including kids cookie decorating from 4 to 7pm sponsored by Martin's IGA+, Christmas crafts for kids from 4 to 7pm, ornament painting from 4 to 7pm sponsored by Stang ARTs, and souvenir photos from 4 to 7pm sponsored by Effingham Tourism.