Two New Carlisle councilmen are setting the standard for holiday memories, hoping to establish longstanding traditions that will be enjoyed fin the city for generations to come. Ethan Reynolds and Mike Lowrey have implemented two new Christmas features in addition to the city’s annual Christmas parade, which they hope will also become treasured traditions for New Carlisle families each year.
Reynolds admits that his love for Christmas is a bit over-the-top, saying that he goes all out each year in celebration of the season.
“I’m the guy who wears Christmas sweaters to council meetings in December,” said Reynolds. “I’ve always really, really loved Christmas,” he said.
This year, Reynolds asked City Manager Randy Bridge if they could host a tree lighting ceremony, and Bridge agreed. The city will hold the first-annual Christmas tree lighting on Saturday evening at 6:30, with the Tecumseh High School choir performing Christmas carols. Reynolds said he is excited to be able to provide another opportunity for city residents to come together at the holidays, noting that Christmas is all about “family, friends, and faith.”
In addition to the official tree lighting ceremony that evening, Reynolds also invited everyone to come downtown on Saturday afternoon to help decorate the tree. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., residents are encouraged to bring one of their own Christmas ornaments to the tree, which will be hung along with many others. Reynolds said he hopes this will offer New Carlisle residents the chance to add a bit of their own family traditions to the tree, saying that he can’t wait to see what a collective assortment of ornaments is brought out for all to enjoy.
Also new this year, councilman Mike Lowrey has introduced New Carlisle Christmas ornaments, which are all dated and feature a sketch of the city’s skyline. Lowrey said he hopes that these ornaments will become mainstays upon Christmas trees in New Carlisle homes for years to come, adding that they will likely feature a different design each season, along with the date.
Lowrey said that he has wanted to create the annual ornaments with the support of the Heritage of Flight Festival committee for several years now, but said they’ve all been so busy with their other projects to make it happen. This year, he said he pitched the idea to the committee once more, and they overwhelmingly approved and tapped Scott Green of Digital Graphics to create the design.
The ornaments can be purchased at the fire station after the parade festivities on Saturday for $10 each. Proceeds from the ornament sales will go to the funds needed to host the committee’s New Year’s Eve ball drop this year, as Lowrey said it is often difficult to find sponsorship for the event, as it lasts only a few hours and is always subject to the elements.
New Carlisle’s 30th annual Christmas parade will begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m., proceeding down Main Street from Madison Street to Lake Avenue, and ending at the firehouse. Santa Claus is set to land at the Andy Barnhart Memorial Airfield at 9:30 that morning, and local youngsters are asked to come meet the big man himself as he arrives at the airport with his elves.
Children are also invited to walk in the parade if they wear holiday-themed or storybook character costumes, which will be judged in a contest at the fire station following the parade. To walk in the parade, arrive at the intersection of Madison and Main by 9:30 a.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras to the firehouse, as Santa will visit with the kids and pose for pictures.
The downtown merchants have planned their holiday open houses on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Reynolds said that Penny Lane will stay open during the tree lighting ceremony so that visitors can purchase hot drinks and get out of the cold.
