LIGHT UP VERMILION!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Vermilion and Main Street Vermilion is working to bring back family friendly events and create new traditions. Join family, friends and neighbors as we gather to celebrate, explore the downtown and get into the holiday spirit. Main Street Vermilion is welcoming the return of familiar traditions and adding some fresh elements of surprise and fun. Here’s what you can look forward to this holiday season....
Friday, December 2, 5 pm to 9 pm throughout Downtown Vermilion
Come downtown for an evening filled with a family-friendly activities, shopping, and dining, and more. Stores and restaurants will be open late. Here’s what’s happening throughout the evening...
SANTA COMES DOWNTOWN! 6 pm - Santa’s here to help with the Community Tree Lighting, arriving in the center of town. Bring your camera to take your own photos with Santa. His bag is full of small gifts (non-food) for the kids!
COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING 6:15 pm - Main Street Vermilion is hosting this long-standing tradition, with festivities in the heart of downtown in Exchange Park. Join in the highlight of the evening as the mayor and Santa turn the lights on to commence the holiday season surrounded Christmas music, family, and friends.
FREE CHRISTMAS CONCERT 7 pm - Ritter Public Library will host its annual Christmas concert performed by the Vermilion Community Band. Music starts at 7 pm and its free to all. Enjoy refreshments as well.
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE WINDOW DISPLAY - Vermilion businesses put their best displays forward during the holidays. Main Street Vermilion is asking you to vote for your favorite and help a local business owner win a cash prize. Stop in Main Street Vermilion during Light Up Vermilion to pick up your ballot before you venture out. Ballot boxes will be all over town, or come back to Main Street.
SCAVENGER HUNT - Main Street Vermilion is hosting another scavenger hunt this holiday, perfect for kids and families. Pick up clues at Main Street before you venture out for Light Up Vermilion. Those who discover all the hidden treasures will be put into a drawing to win $50!
CHRISTMAS ALPACAS - Vermilion’s answer to reindeer, alpacas are sweet, gentle, wide eyed and love to be petted. You’ll find their decorated pen in Exchange Park. Stop and visit that evening.
SWEET TREAT STROLL - Many downtown merchants will be handing out treats to make your night extra special. Pick up a bag at Main Street Vermilion to collect yours. The Kingston of Vermilion Lion will join in that evening, strolling around downtown with candy canes to make sure that your night ends on a sweet note!
CHRISTMAS CAROLERS - The sounds of Christmas can be found at the Community Tree Lighting and throughout the downtown this evening, courtesy of carolers from Grace United Methodist Church and Vermilion E & R Church. You’re invited to sing-a-long, too!
GLOW IN THE DARK - Kiwanis of Vermilion will be providing glow sticks and necklaces for all the kids during the evening. Help Light Up Vermilion by wearing one!
CHESTNUTS ROASTING - Vermilion Rotary Club brings this old-fashioned Christmas treat to Light Up Vermilion visitors. Sweet, buttery and soft, the members will be roasting and sharing throughout the night - be sure to stop by for a free taste.
HOT CHOCOLATE? YES, PLEASE! - Vermilion Lions Club will be downtown during Light Up Vermilion with free hot chocolate for everyone.
LETTER TO SANTA MAILBOX - It’s time to let Santa know your Christmas wishes this year. Stop at Main Street Vermilion from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve and add your letter to the special mailbox on Main Street’s porch. Throughout the season, Main Street Vermilion will share a letter or two on Facebook (no names). All the letters received get packaged up on Christmas Eve, delivered to the Vermilion Post Office and sent straight to the North Pole. Promise!
ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONCERT AT RITTER
The traditional annual Holiday Concert on Friday, December 2, 2022 at 7 pm 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.
SANTA, A STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS
Santa, A Storybook Christmas will be presented by Your Last Chance BBQ and the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce this holiday season featuring "Not So Silent Night", "Jingle Bells & BBQ" and "Santa's Workshop".
Not So Silent Night
"Not So Silent Night" takes place Friday, November 25, 2022 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Come in your favorite Christmas jammies for free pictures with Santa in his sleigh, unveiling of Christmas Lights, cookies, cocoa and more at Your Last Chance BBQ, 5693 Liberty Avenue in downtown Vermilion, Ohio.
Jingle Bells & BBQ
Santa arrives on his BIG RED boat on Saturday, November 26, 2022 beginning at 10 am. Watch Santa as he cruises the Vermilion River from 10:am to 10:45 am. The best place to watch Santa is McGarvey's Landing, Quaker Steak & Lube, and the Liberty Avenue blue bridge.
From 11:30 am to 12:30 pm free pictures with Santa in his Santa House will be offered at Your Last Chance BBQ, 5693 Liberty Avenue in downtown Vermilion, Ohio.. Santa will arrive in style on the VFD Fire Truck. Caroling will be led by Trinity Handbell Choir. Don't be shy, join in by signing popular Christmas songs! Cookies, hot cocoa and more will also be offered.
Santa's Workshop
"Santa's Workshop" takes place Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 12 pm to 2 pm. Free pictures with Santa and the Grinch in the Santa House will be offered at Your Last Chance BBQ, 5693 Liberty Avenue in downtown Vermilion, Ohio. Rock & Roll Express Entertainment will get you in the Christmas spirit with Christmas music, trivia and fun giveaways. Cookies, hot cocoa and more will also be offered.
Coloring Contest winners will be announced by 1:45 pm. (Pick-up your official coloring sheet from Your Last Chance BBQ 5693 Liberty Avenue, Szabo Apparel, Co. 5571 Liberty Avenue or the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce 5495 Liberty Avenue beginning November 25th. Turn in your completed coloring sheet by December 10th at noon. Coloring sheet designed by Szabo Apparel.)
Presented by Your Last Chance BBQ and the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce! Your Last Chance BBQ will have BBQ Santa specials too on the menu during the events. For questions or to have the coloring contest sheet emailed to you, email [email protected]
Event Sponsors: Your Last Chance BBQ, Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, Vermilion Chamber Foundation, Stein, Olsen & Stang, LLC, Bechtel Counseling and Consulting LLC, Cleveland Stone Company "The Shop", Sea La Vie Riverside & Riverbend Retreats, Szabo Apparel, Co., Rock & Roll Express Entertainment Company, Erie & Anchor, Above & Beyond Salon & Spa, Tiffany's Flower & Gift Boutique, Tails of Vermilion, Hometown Bakery, Rocky & Lela's Barkery & Boutique, Harbortown Marine, Inc., Harbortown Flag, Inc., Beauty By Bergan, The Olive Scene. Be sure to stop in at the businesses to thank them for helping us bring you "Santa, A Storybook Christmas." It is thru their generosity that we were able to bring you three amazing, festive days packed with Christmas FREE family FUN! Remember to SHOP, DINE, SUPPORT LOCAL this Holiday Season and throughout the year!
OLD FASHIONED HOLIDAY
An Old-Fashioned Holiday takes December 3 & 4, 2022 at Vermilion River Reservation (Mill Hollow side), 51211 North Ridge Road in Vermilion, Ohio. Get in the holiday spirit with some old-fashioned fun-for-the-whole-family at Vermilion River Reservation! Step back in time to the 1860s as you tour the candlelit Benjamin Bacon House Museum. The Brownhelm Historical Association will re-enact the lives of Brownhelm residents as they cook on the fire, share Bacon and Brownhelm history, and perform Christmas carols! Stop by the Carriage Barn to warm up and take photos beside the Christmas tree. Light refreshments will be on sale inside (cash only). Pre-registration for each person is required. Cost is $3; kids 3 and under are free. Register at www.loraincountymetroparks.com programs. Outside activities are weather-dependent. For additional information, contact the Carriage Barn at (440) 967-7310.
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 on Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 10:30 am to around 3 pm. 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.