2019 Hometown Christmas Event This Weekend

One of the annual indications that Christmas is a-coming is the annual Hometown Christmas Event, set for this weekend.

Downtown Effingham will be transformed into a Midwestern version of the North Pole, with various activities for the young and young-at-heart.

Ice skating, a crowd favorite from last year, will be part of this year's event. Skating hours will be Friday 5-9pm, Saturday noon to 9pm, and Sunday noon to 5pm. The fee is $5 per person, and ice skates will be available to rent.

A "Don't Be a Grinch 5K, an evening run through the streets of Effingham is set for Friday evening. The official City of Effingham Community Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at 5:30pm. There will also be tunes coming from the gazebo on the Courthouse lawn as the Holiday Open Mic Night kicks off at that time, too.

On Saturday, there are some new events, including a "Lunch w/Santa" at Joe's Pizza and Pasta and a Snowball Drop event.

The Snowball Drop will take place at 2pm, when approximately 800 ping pong balls, with store names written on them, will fall from the air on Washington Avenue. Grab a few and then visit the participating businesses to claim a coupon, special offer or gift. The event is free and open to the public.

Santa is slated to arrive in downtown Effingham with a parade down Jefferson Avenue at 3:50pm, arriving at Santa's House at 4pm.

There will still be horse drawn carriage rides, live Christmas music, Christmas cookie decorating, children's train rides and other family-friendly activities throughout the day. Refreshments will be available, as well.