Seymour’s downtown Christmas event has always been a popular attraction.
But after years of doing the same old thing, the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce is making some big changes, including the addition of a Christmas lights parade.
This year’s event, now called Home for the Holidays, will be bigger and better with more to see and do, said organizer Sasha Norman with the chamber.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryInstead of being on a Monday night, the festivities are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 24, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will coincide with Small Business Saturday.
Downtown businesses will be open, and holiday shoppers will be able to participate in a Stuff a Stocking activity being organized by Seymour Main Street.
“We want people to come downtown, shop local and celebrate our small businesses,” Norman said.
But Home for the Holidays isn’t all about shopping. It’s also a fun way for families to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season together, she said.
And the best part is that it’s free, Norman said.
There will be two Christmas-themed movies at the Jackson County Public Library in Seymour that day. “The Polar Express” will be shown from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and “A Christmas Story” from 2 to 4 p.m.
Favorite attractions, including the trackless train and Silly Safaris’ live reindeer and elves, will return, but this year, they will be located at the new Crossroads Community Park from noon to 2 p.m.
From 3 to 7 p.m., vendor booths will be open at the park offering food, activities and Christmas gift ideas.
There also will be live entertainment, including adult and children’s choirs and performers from STEPS Dance Studio, on the pavilion stage.
“It’s great because with the new park, we don’t have to close the streets downtown,” Norman said.
Anyone interested in setting up a booth should contact the chamber at 812-522-3681.
At 3 p.m., Ray Eakins with Old National Bank will read Christmas stories to kids at the chamber office.
The biggest addition to the event is the parade of lights at 6 p.m., which is being organized by the Seymour Oktoberfest committee.
“Columbus and Bedford and several other surrounding communities have parades, so we thought we would just try it and see what happens,” Norman said.
All entries in the parade, including floats and walking groups, are required to have some sort of Christmas lights. There is no entry fee to participate in the parade, but registration is required at seymouroktoberfest.com/lights.
At the end of the parade, Santa will ride into the park and light the Christmas tree and then will visit with children in Santa’s House.
Norman said partnering with Seymour Main Street, the Oktoberfest committee and the city’s parks department is making the event stronger.
“It’s great because it’s bringing these organizations together,” she said. “We have been meeting for several months and coming up with ideas to make it bigger than ever.”
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What: Home for the Holidays Christmas event
Where: Downtown Seymour
When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 24
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Stuff a Stocking, downtown shops open
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “The Polar Express” movie at the Jackson County Public Library
Noon to 2 p.m.: Trackless train at Crossroads Community Park
Noon to 2 p.m.: Silly Safaris reindeer and elves at Crossroads Community Park
2 to 4 p.m.: “A Christmas Story” movie at the library
3 to 7 p.m.: Vendor booths open at Crossroads Community Park
3 p.m.: Storytime at the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce
6 p.m.: Parade of lights
7 p.m.: Tree lighting and Santa’s arrival at Crossroads Community Park
To register for the parade, visit seymouroktoberfest.com/lights.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the event or having a vendor booth can contact Sasha Norman at 812-522-3681 or [email protected].
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