Lighting of Concord tonight

Concord will hold the annual Lighting of Concord Friday, Dec. 6. Festivities will begin at 5 p.m. with musical acts, hayrides and a Christmas Bazaar. Santa Claus is set to arrive via helicopter at 6:45 p.m. and families can pass the time warming up with hot drinks or standing by the crackling fire boxes. ’The Lighting of Concord has transformed from a small celebration at the back of the city hall to a huge event,’ said organizer Anita Neath. ‘This year, we’re going to register people for appointments with Santa to help control the chaos and keep everyone from missing out on the festivities because they’re standing in line. They can arrive at 5 p.m., get their ticket which tells them what time to be at the door then they can go eat, shop, go on a hay ride or enjoy the fire boxes until time to see Santa.’The Pike County Arts Council Junior Players will perform in the gazebo in downtown Concord. The Dixie Dulcimers will perform inside the Strickland building. Supper will be served at several locations along Main Street. The Concord Café will offer chili, stew and cornbread and hamburgers and fries. The Candy Shoppe will serve chicken salad and sweet treats. Other options will be hot dogs and chips and corn dogs with all the fixings.While awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus via helicopter, visitors can gather around crackling fireboxes with friends old and new, snuggle up for a hay ride or visit the Christmas Bazaar to pick up last minute Christmas gifts. Sing along to Christmas carols during the lighting of the Big Tree.Hay rides will stop at 6:30 p.m. so everyone can enjoy the arrival of Santa at 6:45 p.m. to visit with children from 1 to 92 in the Strickland Building. Santa’s photographer will be on site this year.Organizers for this year’s event include Anita Neath, city clerk Sharon Casey, Barbara Neath, Brenda Brown, city employees Stephanie Richardson, John Caldwell and Stanley Parks and mayor Jim Roberts.