RANDOLPH - The holiday shopping season is underway for most retailers and businesses along the Amish Trail are prepared for the festivities with holiday events, craft shows, dinners and unique gifts at merchants along the route. Celebrated as 'Christmas along the Amish Trail,' shoppers are invited to get all of their shopping done and enjoy some family entertainment at the same time at planned local festivals.
From Dec. 4-6, Randolph will host their annual Country Christmas Extravaganza. On Friday evening a Memory Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at the town triangle. An ornament may be purchased in honor of or in memory of a loved one; their names read and a bell rung at the ceremony. Pre-sales are available at the Randolph Municipal Building for $5.
A 'Woodland Christmas parade' will start out the day on Saturday at 11 am down Main Street. Santa will be stopping by to hear wish lists from children at the Randolph Fire Hall during the Festival of Trees. Unique merchandise will be available from vendors and Chinese Raffles will be held; including a raffle for an Amish rocking chair.
On Sunday, the festival will run from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will include a chicken and biscuit dinner along with music and more.
For more information, contact the RACDC office at 358-9701 ext. 208.
In Gowanda on Saturday Dec. 5, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5:30pm .at the Hollywood theater entrance. 'The Night before Christmas' will be read by jolly 'ol Santa himself. At Chang Hu Park, there will be a living nativity, music, singing and refreshments to follow.
Also on Dec, 5, a craft show and turkey and biscuit dinner is scheduled at the South Dayton Fire Activity Hall. Santa will make an appearance at that location also.
In honor of Salamanca's own Ray Evans, lyricist of the famous Christmas song, 'Silver Bells,' a Silver Bells Festival will be held. A holiday craft show is scheduled also at the Prospect Elementary School. This activity will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 5, Enchante Cabaret, a professional dinner theatre company will be performing a special Christmas performance, Halos and Holly, at the Ray Evans Seneca theater at 7 p.m. More information is available for this event at www.salamancachamber.org.
On Dec. 13 at 2 p.m., experience Christmas as it was in the 1800s by joining in an old fashioned Christmas service that is being hosted at the 1836 Historical Church in Leon; Victorian dress is optional.
For more information on any of these countryside festivals, visit www.NYAmishTrail.com.