Lots of vacation activities available this season: Short Takes on Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville

Lorain County, Ohio

Thanksgiving is over. Now we can fully celebrate the holiday season.

In addition to Avon’s annual tree-lighting festivities taking place on December 4 (for a full list of events, go to frenchcreekfoundation.com), plenty of activities are planned at Olde Avon Village, 36840 Detroit Road, this weekend to get you in the holiday spirit.

If you’ve never been to the annual Candlelite Wine Walk, this is a must! The event is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday (December 3). Tickets are just $ 10 and include 10 wine samples at participating stores and food samples provided by Strip Steakhouse, Tree House Tea Room, and The Clifton. Guests can enjoy an evening with good wine, food, live music, and a bit of shopping. Santa Claus has also been known to walk through the event. My friends and I love to attend this event. We hope to see more people this year. Bundle up and enjoy the sights and sounds of the vacation.

The next day (Dec. 4), families can enter the Hide the Pickle contest from noon to 3 p.m. in the village. Go on a hunt for lucky pickles hidden in Olde Avon Village Park. Prizes will be awarded for Lucky Pickle researchers. The village shops will be open with “sugar cane specials” throughout the Candlelite Walk weekend. Now more than ever, it’s important to support and buy local.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos on Sunday (December 5) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Olde Avon Village.

In Avon Lake, families can take part in a holiday scavenger hunt. Fifteen different holiday-themed characters, including Buddy the Elf, Snoopy, and even Mayor Greg Zilka, will be placed around town at local businesses, public buildings, and other locations around town. The figures will be visible from the outside (no need to enter buildings), and city officials are reminding residents that public parks close after dark. A Scavenger Hunt.form form is available online to verify characters and submit to city officials, go to bit.ly/alScavengerHunt.

Avon Lake’s annual “Deck the House” holiday light pageant is also underway. Take a photo of your home or business and submit it to the Avon Lake Parks and Recreation Department by December 19th. The vote will take place on social media from December 20 to 29. The winners will be announced on December 30. Prizes will be awarded to winning families / businesses. If you submit an entry early, your home could be listed on the City-Wide Self-Guided Lights Tour. To enter, go to form.gle/zzYS3vmHg5ewrYsaA.

Kick off the annual Vacation on the Ridge in North Ridgeville at 10 a.m. on December 4 at My Wood Loft, 39097 Center Ridge Road. The Spectrum of Sound Choir at North Ridgeville High School will sing Christmas carols from noon to 2 p.m. A hot chocolate bar will be provided by Northridge Health Care. Santa will be there at 11 a.m. The event ends at 6 p.m.

If craft shows are your thing, there is an abundance of choice during the Holiday on the Ridge event (all events below are December 4th).

Hometown Vendors Craft Show takes place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8820 Bender Road. Over 45 artisans, bakers, artists and small businesses will have items available for purchase. Free entry.

Sugar Ridge Baptist Church Craft Show runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 36600 Sugar Ridge Road. Vendors and food will be on site.

The first Congregational Church Craft Show is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 36363 Center Ridge Road. A wide variety of handmade crafts will be offered over two floors. A cafe will be available with food items. Admission is $ 1 and children under 10 are $ 0.50.

The 40th Annual PTU St. Peter’s Christmas Craft Bazaar is held 9 am-3pm at 35777 Center Ridge Road. Admission is $ 3 and senior admission is $ 2.

The Craft Fair at St Julie Billiart Church will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5500 Lear Nagle Road. Items for sale include props, bags, books, blankets, candles, crochet, cards, decorations, honey, holiday items, jewelry, photo prints, painted items, bags hand, sewn, wood crafts, wreaths and more. Food and drink will also be available for purchase. Admission is $ 1 and free for children 11 and under (masks are required).

Fields Methodist Church is housed in a 9 am to 4 pm “Cookie Walk” at 34077 Lorain Road. Fill a holiday cookie tray with a variety of sweet treats. Pre-made cookies and trays are sold by the pound (while supplies last).

AVON

Baseball Vacation Open Day: Lake Erie Crushers office staff are hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on December 11 at Mercy Health Stadium, 2009 Baseball Blvd. The event is an opportunity for families to tour the stadium, grab some holiday treats and snap a photo with Stomper. To register, go to shapes.gle/fRN1pCyuXj5NpL18A.

Window treatment company: Gotcha Covered, a family owned window shading and treatment company, recently opened a store at 2525 Nagel Road (across from Holy Trinity Church). For more information, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com/avon or call 440-709-8249.

Pancake breakfast: The Avon Band and Orchestra Boosters (ABOB) Annual Holiday Pancake Breakfast takes place from 8 a.m. to noon on December 5 at Avon High School, 37545 Detroit Road. The event includes performances by Avon bands, a breakfast, a decorated tree raffle and a vendor fair. Advance tickets are $ 9 for adults; $ 8 for seniors over 65 and children under 5; and $ 3 for student musicians performing for breakfast. To purchase tickets, go to abob-pancake-breakfast.square.site.

Meeting of the Republican Club: Avon-Avon Lake Republican Club to host two speakers at 5 pm December 9 at Red Tail Golf Club at 4400 Lear Road; US Senate candidate Josh Mandel; and Max Miller, candidate for the US Congress. The cost is $ 5 for the guests.

Another car wash: Ross Safos recently sought approval from the city’s planning commission for the site plan for a 3,926 square foot project. The car wash and vacuum islands will be located on the east side of Nagel Road, north of Detroit Road.

LAKE AVON

Demolition of the playground: This month, teams will begin dismantling playground equipment at Bleser Park to make way for new playground elements that are expected to be installed and ready for use by Memorial Day. The carved paving stones will remain at the entrance to the park.

Digital Media Awards: Congratulations to Avon Lake Community Television (ALC-TV). The Alliance for Community Media – Central States Region recently announced the 2021 Philo Media Award winners and three Avon Lake nominations were winners. Over 160 nominations were submitted from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Stephanie Biggers, Production Coordinator, won the “Comedy / Humor” category for “Running with Scissors: Avon Lake Ribbon Cuttings”. This video features Mayor Greg Zilka and Economic Development Director Ted Esborn walking around the city to cut the ribbon at the eight new businesses / retail locations that opened or relocated between March and June 2020.

Lucas Hricko, production assistant, won in the “Community Event General” category for “The Haunted Trails at Weiss Park”. Hricko also won an award last year for his production featuring the Avon Lake Halloween event.

Traci McBride, public producer, won in the “Interview / Talk Show” category for her program “Indelible Impression with TeeMcBee” edited by Biggers. McBride interviewed author Tamsin Astor about his book “Force of Habit”.

To view the winning videos, go to AvonLake.org/Digital-Media.

Charity ball: The annual Avon / Avon Lake Community Resource Services (CRS) Caring Hearts Charity Ball will be held on January 29. The event includes a sit-down dinner, music, dancing, auctions, raffles and other ways to support CRS. Sponsorship opportunities at all levels are available. CRS also accepts donations for live and silent auctions. For more information, call Sheila at sroth@aalcrs.org.

NORTH RIDGEVILLE

Theatrical performances: The dates and times for the “Meet Me in St. Louis” show at the Olde Town Hall Theater, 36119 Center Ridge Road, include December 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 pm; and on 5 and 11 Dec. at 2 p.m. For more information, visit oldetownehall.wixsite.com/oldetownehalltheater.

Coffee-talk: Join Mayor Kevin Corcoran for his monthly 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Conversation Coffee on December 8 in the Town Hall Council Chamber, 7307 Avon Belden Road.

Senior citizens’ Christmas party: Join other seniors for an 11:30 a.m. Christmas party on December 22 at Senior Center, 7327 Avon Belden Road. The holiday lunch includes gifts, games and a visit from Santa Claus. Entertainment will be provided by the Five Penny Quintet, which will sing a mix of Broadway and Christmas songs. To make a reservation, call 440-353-0828.

Cleaning of the cemetery: The North Ridgeville Cemetery Department is asking the public to help clean up flowers and other decorations in town cemeteries by December 5. All items left will be collected by the department as of December 6. For more information, contact Marc Allen, Sexton Cemetery / Grounds Maintenance Supervisor at 440-336-2259.

If you have any news / information or an idea for a story that you would like to share or a ‘shout out’, please send an email to jshortavon@aol.com.

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