The Clymer Business Association sponsors the event, providing treats and gifts so no one goes home empty-handed. “We try to have it so everyone who shows up goes home with something,” said Crandall Nyweide.

Christmas in Clymer was held throughout the day on Saturday, Dec. 11, with local businesses offering specials and drawings for prizes. Deb White of Dutch Village Restaurant said they had a busy day.

“We had a lot of reservations and we had several Christmas parties,” she said.

Kathy Neckers of Neckers Company General Store explained that everyone who comes to the Student Performance Center at Clymer Central School receives a ticket. “We draw the children’s tickets first. When you’re number is chosen, the kids get to pick a toy, then we switch to the adults,” she said.

Santa has been showing up for Christmas in Clymer for 30 years and still seems to enjoy the event as much as ever. Submitted photos

Neckers reported that more than 110 adult tickets had been given out and 75 children tickets.

Nyweide added that the number of people who came out for the event was only five less than the last time before COVID.

Nyweide and Neckers said it was good to be able to have a normal Christmas in Clymer.

“Two years ago, we did a drive-through Christmas,” Nyweide said.

“Last year, we scaled back and gave a ticket to each family,” Neckers said. “This is the first year we’re back to normal.”

The Clymer Business Association provided the gifts, which ranged from toys for the children to breakfast kits to plates of baked goods from Dutch Village Restaurant, gift certificates to local businesses, and an assortment of other items.

Barry Neckers along with Lant Lictus of Lictus Keystone acted of masters of ceremony for the event. When he was describing the breakfast package which Neckers Company General Store had donated, Neckers noted that the package included milk this year.

“We used to give orange juice, but we live in a dairy community, so we decided to give milk,” he said.

Santa, whom it was rumored also drove a bus for Clymer Central School, was in this 30th year taking part in the event. He said this might be his last year, but everybody knows that Santa never retires.

“Some of the older kids go up to Santa and say ‘we know who you are,'” Neckers said.

Dale White, who brought his grandchildren, said he has a long history of memories for this event.

“I’m 65 years old yesterday. I’ve probably been doing this since I was 5 or 6 years old,” he said. “I remember walking up to the truck with the ticket barrel when I was yay-high and warming myself at the fire.”

Kathy Neckers explained that, when the event began, it was held outside. A big turn-able barrel full of tickets with family names was placed on a truck bed.

The Christmas In Clymer event first began as a way to have people settle their outstanding bills with local businesses, Nyweide said. Since the businesses offered credit to residents through the year. a lot of people owed money at the end of the year. The business association decided that for every dollar someone paid on their bill, they would receive a ticket. The tickets were then drawn for prizes.

Another change that developed was that it was decided that everyone should go home with something. Toys and adult gifts are donated by the participating businesses.

“Those that are left over are kept for next year,” Neckers said. “If no one takes them after a few years, we donate them to charities.”