LIGHT UP VERMILION!
Our Small Town on a Great Lake sparkles during the Holidays. Feel like you have stepped back in time to enjoy the holidays the old-fashioned way, with family, neighbors, and friends in historic downtown Vermilion. Main Street Vermilion is bringing back Light Up Vermilion for its ninth season with family friendly events and special new traditions. The event takes place Friday, December 8, 2023 from 5-9 pm, tree lighting and Santa arrives at 6 pm. The evening begins in Exchange Park when Santa arrives in style to help Mayor Jim Forthofer count down to the Community Tree Lighting. After the tree lighting, stroll through town enjoying caroling, roasting chestnuts, hot chocolate, photo opts and more. Kids, don’t forget to bring your letters to Santa. A special North Pole mailbox is located at 685 Main Street. It is the perfect time to start your holiday shopping and grab a bite to eat as many stores and restaurants will add extra hours this night. Watch Main Street Vermilion’s Facebook for details or visit www.mainstreetvermilion.org for details!
SANTA IS COMING TO TOWN
The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce presents “Santa is Coming to Town” November 25th, December 2nd and December 9th in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. The Vermilion Chamber of Commerce Christmas Committee will bring a good old fashion Christmas to you in downtown Vermilion. This year the Santa House will be in Victory Park for all to enjoy. Santa will be cruising the Vermilion River on his big red boat from 10 am to 11 am on November 25th. From 11 am to 2 pm Santa Workshop Christmas Ornament Craft will be offered. At 11 am Santa arrives by firetruck to the Santa House at Victory Park in downtown Vermilion. Santa will be in the house from 12 pm to 2 pm. On December 2nd and December 9th Santa will be in the house from 5 pm to 7 pm in Victory Park. From 5 pm to 7 pm Santa Workshop Christmas Ornament Craft will be offered. Visit Vermilion merchants and restaurants. Shop, dine and be merry. If you would like to be a sponsor of Santa, email the Vermilion Chamber at [email protected]. $100 sponsorship gets your name on our event flier and on the Chamber website. For more information, visit VermilionOhio.com.
ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT AT RITTER
The traditional annual Holiday Concert at Ritter Library features the seasonal sounds of the Vermilion Community Music Association band at Ritter Library in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Held on the first floor of the library. Everybody welcome! The program is free and open to the public, sponsored by Friends of Ritter whose mission is to promote enjoyment of the library. Ritter Public Library is located at 5680 Liberty Avenue in Vermilion, Ohio. Call (440) 967-3798 for more information.
OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAY
Get in the holiday spirit with some old-fashioned fun-for-the-whole-family at Vermilion River Reservation! An Old Fashioned Holiday At The Benjamin Bacon House takes place December 2, 2023 from 3 pm to 7 pm and December 3, 2023 from 3 pm to 7 pm
Step back in time to the 1860s as you tour the candlelit Benjamin Bacon House Museum, where members of the Brownhelm Historical Association portray Brownhelm residents celebrating the holidays. Outside the Bacon House, by the warmth of their campfire, enjoy visiting with re-enactors as they cook and share Bacon and Brownhelm history.
Enjoy a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride thru Mill Hollow’s pretty, wintry backdrop, and then stop by the cozy and charming Carriage Barn to warm up and take Holiday photos by the beautifully decorated fireplace and 14-foot tall Christmas tree. Relax and roast S’mores around the outdoor fire pits (while supplies last), and The Friends of Metro Parks will be selling light refreshments inside the Carriage Barn (cash only).
The program fee includes one carriage ride and the museum tour. Pre-register EACH person in your group for a 12-minute museum tour time-block (limit of 12 people per Tour). No walk-ins; pre-register by 12/1 at loraincountymetroparks.com/programs. On event day, please check in at the Carriage Barn lobby, where you will receive your carriage ride ticket to be used either before or after your scheduled museum tour. Outside activities are weather dependent. For questions, contact the Carriage Barn at (440) 967-7310.0.
SANTA ON THE FIRE TRUCK
The Vermilion Fire Company Inc. (Social Club) has arranged for Santa to replace his sleigh with one of their shiny fire trucks. Santa is coming to town on a fire truck. St. Nick will tour Vermilion neighborhoods courtesy of some special people. The Vermilion Fire Company, Inc., the social club for firefighters, hosts the annual Santa On The Fire Truck in Vermilion. The Fire Company tries to give local kids a thrill with the Santa Tour. Listen for the fire truck horn. Don't be naughty if they can't get to your exact spot. They will do their best to hit every street. Santa On The Fire Truck is solely funded by donations. Donations can be sent by mail to Vermilion Fire Company – Santa, 5467 Ohio Street, Vermilion, Ohio 44089.
BROWNHELM COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
Brownhelm Community Christmas takes place December 24th, annually. Santas visit all homes in Old Brownhelm delivering gifts, candy and fruit. 20 Santas visit all homes in Old Brownhelm, the area originally served by the Brownhelm School before it was consolidated with Firelands Schools. Every child under 10 receives a gift; those up to age 14 receive candy and fruit. Seniors citizens are gifted with a half-peck basket of fruit. Cards are sent out to everyone serving in the military. Anyone who might go without Christmas dinner discreetly receives food packages. Letters are sent to Brownhelm Township families in November explaining the Community Christmas tradition with instructions on how to receive a Santa visit. The area is divided into routes; each route with a chairman to compile a list of each recipient’s name and age. The Brownhelm Community Christmas Santa visits have become an integral part of the season for Brownhelm residents. Organizers rely solely on donations; they do not solicit businesses but local businesses donate fruit and solicit donations. Volunteers drive Santa from house to house, wrap gifts, assemble fruit baskets, pack candy into bags, and help the Santas get dressed on Christmas Eve. For more information, visit www.brownhelm.org.
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AT HISTORIC BROWNHELM SCHOOL
Join Brownhelm Historical Association for an Old-Fashioned Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting and caroling. Enjoy a Soup Supper while reminiscing about past Community Christmases and Brownhelm Santas. After supper the Brownhelm Christmas Tree will be lit, as everyone sings a few Christmas carols then heads back in for cookies, hot cocoa, and coffee. Santa will visit. Christmas Tree Lighting & Soup Supper takes place on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the Historic Brownhelm School & Museum, 1940 North Ridge Road in Vermilion, Ohio. Doors open at 4 pm. Soup Supper takes place from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. Tree Lighting takes place at 6 pm.
CHRISTMAS AT THE BROWNHELM HERITAGE MUSEUM
Christmas at the Brownhelm Heritage Museum takes place in December at Brownhelm Heritage Museum, 1355 Claus Road in Vermilion, Ohio. It will be a festive evening to socialize with friends at the little white country church, sing carols, and bid friends a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Join Brownhelm Historical Association for the last meeting of the year at the Brownhelm Heritage Museum. Doors open at 6 pm. A brief business meeting takes place at 6:30 pm with a program and refreshments to follow. The church museum has more room now that several pews have been returned and the center aisle has been recreated. Please bring a dozen cookies or brownies to share. Parking is across the road at the north end of the Brownhelm Township Garage. Note there are no restrooms at the church.
VERMILION ART SHOWS & RECEPTIONS
The Vermilion Arts Guild hosts seasonal shows featuring artwork that reflect the season. The Vermilion Arts Guild, a program of Main Street Vermilion, is a collective of local artists and craftsmen working together to provide opportunities that promote and identify Vermilion as an exciting art community. Gallery shows feature watercolors, acrylics, oils, mixed media, photography, jewelry, potters, fiber art, wood and hand-crafted items. Original art is a great gift. You'll find a wonderful selection here along with scenes that celebrate the season. The gallery location is 685 Main Street in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Main Street Vermilion is located at 685 Main Street in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Call (440) 963-0772 or visit www.mainstreetvermilion.org for more information.
VERMILION POSTCARD PROJECT
The Postcard Project features 15 big and beautiful, mural-sized recreations of vintage postcards that record local history and the nostalgic scenes that depict Vermilion as a long-time vacation destination. Enjoy a day downtown and all around Vermilion and see the award-winning Postcard Project for yourself. Stop in at Main Street Vermilion first for your keepsake Tour Guide (a $5 suggested donation). Postcards 1 through 10 are walkable throughout the historic downtown district. Postcards 11-14 are located along the eastern corridor of town and can be viewed on foot or by car. Postcard 15 is located 4.8 miles west of downtown at Beulah Beach, where the grounds are open to the public and the view of the lake is a wonderful way to end your day in Vermilion. This is the perfect social distancing activity, outdoors and spread out! Main Street Vermilion is located at 685 Main Street in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Call (440) 963-0772 or visit www.mainstreetvermilion.org for more information.