Santa returning to fire station to close bicentennial year
Holiday tradition revived to honor area’s rich history.
Miamisburg MIAMISBURG — is reviving an old-time tradition and continuing others at this weekend’s community holiday celebration, the last of its bicentennial activities this year.
Carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, a parade and musical performances will be among the events to enjoy. But one that was part of the city’s festivities for four decades — Santa at Fire Station 53 — will return as part of the Bicentennial Committee’s two days of activities.
“We wanted to wrap-up the bicentennial in a special way, and Santa’s visit at the fire station was the best way we could think of to honor this community’s rich history,” according to Miamisburg Mayor Dick Church, Jr., who chaired the bicentennial group.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the First Street station.
“Everyone is invited to join in this special celebration and participate in one of Miamisburg’s great traditions,” he added.
Saturday’s events will begin at 11 a.m. and the last activity of the weekend is planned for 5 p.m. Sunday. It is the last in a series of events that bicentennial organizers planned at least once a month throughout 2018.
Miamisburg celebrated its actual bicentennial founding date of Feb. 20, with a sold-out Founder’s Day dinner that night.
In June, the committee held eight straight days of events celebrating Miamisburg’s history and heritage in multiple ways. Among the highlights was a free concert in Riverfront Park by Country Music Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs, as well as parades to begin and end the celebration.
Saturday’s parade route will travel west along Central Avenue to Main Street, ending at the intersection of Main and Linden Avenue, according to the city.
The parade staging area on Sixth Street between Central and Linden will close to traffic from 1 p.m. until the parade is over.
“Rolling” parade route traffic closures on Central between Sixth and Main will begin at 2:20 p.m. and end 30 minutes after the parade, according to the city.
Throughout the day, skating, horse-drawn carriage rides and other entertainment — including carolers — will be available. The tree-lighting is set for 6 p.m. and a concert by “American Home Party & Holiday Bazaar, Miamisburg Community Center;
Glice (artificial ice) open skate, Riverfront Park; Parade, Central Avenue from Sixth Street to Riverfront Park;
Santa and Mrs. Claus at Fire Station 53 on First Street; Horse-drawn carriage rides from Baum Opera House, fire station and community center; Carolers, magicians, jugglers and musicians, Riverfront Park and Main Street; Tree-lighting ceremony, Riverfront Park; Luminary Walk, Veterans Memorial Park; Alexis Gomez concert, Riverfront Park or Memorial Auditorium, depending on weather.
Miamisburg Historical Society’s Christmas at the Tavern. The Daniel Gebhart Tavern Museum, Old Main and Lock streets. Open House features an 1800s-style Christmas celebration includes live music free hot ciders and refreshments.
Miamisburg Community Chorus 45th Annual Christmas Concert, Baum Opera House. Idol” finalist Alexis Gomez at 8 p.m. with both events at Riverfront Park.
Sunday’s events include the Miamisburg Historical Society’s Christmas at the Tavern at the Daniel Gebhart Tavern Museum. That’s where an 1800s-style Christmas celebration includes live music by the Star City Dulcimers and the Miamisburg High School Madrigal.
“It’s a tight-knit community and we have a lot of traditions,” Church said earlier this year. “Miamisburg’s a special place and we’ve got a lot of traditions.”
The Miamisburg Community Chorus will perform its 45th Annual Christmas Concert to close out the weekend. The chorus will feature the Christmas Cantata “Born a Savior, Born a King” along with other Christmas favorites.