By Jessica Benson

Evening Sun Staff Writer

EARLVILLE - The Village of Earlville will be kicking off the Christmas season with their annual Winterfest Celebration on Friday, December 5. The village has planned two days of activities to ring in the holiday spirit and remind the community that they are all in this together.

According to Earlville Events Committee member, Michelle Connelly, Winterfest is a “nostalgic hometown event.” Different businesses and organizations in Earlville create their own offerings, but they all come together to get in the holiday spirit.

Winterfest has been taking place in Earlville since 2017, but things have really revved up the last few years. Connelly and fellow committee members Robin Worden and Lori Crumb have worked hard to add events that can bring the community together and bolster community pride. “In this day and age, we need each other,” Connelly said. That was one of the reasons, she wanted to build events that would create memories for Earlville’s adults and children.

This year’s events will begin Friday at 5:30 p.m. with caroling in the Village Green. Free hot cocoa will be available. After that, Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride through town on a firetruck. The public is welcome to make this a parade by decorating their vehicles and meeting the firetruck behind Mirabito’s Gas Station at 6 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will end their trek at the Village Green for the lighting of the Christmas Tree.

“Earlville is a small town with a big heart,” Connelly said. “All of these events are community run and the people involved always find the time out a sense of goodness for bettering our village.”

Events continue Saturday with activities for children and adults alike. The Sherburne Community Theater will be performing readings of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Worden said the event she is most excited for is the community diner on Saturday. “It’s our way of giving back to the community,” Worden said. A ziti dinner will be held at the Earlville Firehouse Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Free will donations will be accepted. Following the dinner, visitors are invited to attend a special double feature event at the Earlville Opera House.

“Earlville is such small community, but it’s a unique. It spans two counties, four townships. We’re really in our own world out here,” Worden said. “Our goal is community unity. We want to bring people together.”

Worden pointed out that the Earlville Events Committee is made up of a very small group of dedicated individuals. “We need more participation. More volunteers. More brains,” Worden said. Any Earlville residents interested in helping to plan future events should contact the village office.

Friday’s full listing of community events includes: caroling in the village green, Santa and Mrs. Claus’ firetruck ride through the village, a holiday blessing by Pastor John Jablonski in the village green, followed by the tree lighting, and an ugly sweater contest judged by Mrs. Claus. Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children at the Earlville Free Library for cookies and the library’s Christmas Basket Raffle winners will be announced.

Saturday’s events are: open play and Christmas crafts at The Bell Tree, a buffet breakfast with Santa at The Huff Brau, a vendor event at 3 North Main Street, storytime with Mrs. Claus and holiday crafts at the Earlville Free Library, cookie decorating at the First Baptist Church, a holiday open house and silent auction at the Earlville Opera House, the Sherburne Music Theater Society’s double feature at the Earlville Opera House, A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Earlville Opera House and the free community dinner.

For more information about any of these events, visit the Village of Earlville’s Facebook Page.