By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As the holiday season kicks off, so does the annual Christmas Tree Festival in New York Mills with a theme of “Tinsel Town Christmas” this year. The week-long event last from Saturday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 6 and will feature activities for all ages.

To kick off this year’s event, there will be a Chili and Chowder Feed at the senior center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Family Day will start at 10 a.m. and go through 1 p.m. in the city hall ballroom, where the majority of the festival events will take place. Family Day activities include tree viewing, photos with Santa Claus, children’s crafts and cookie decorating.

On Monday, Dec. 1, tree viewing will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a meal hosted by the NY Mills Bandwagon will be served from 5-6 p.m. At 6 p.m., the NY Mills Close Up group will be hosting a fundraiser of Toy Bingo, which is open to all ages. You can read more about Toy Bingo elsewhere in this edition of the NY Mills Dispatch.

On Tuesday, Dec. 2, tree viewing will begin at 1 p.m. along with Senior Day, which lasts until 3 p.m. and will include musical entertainment and lots of fun. From 3-7 p.m. horse drawn sleigh rides will be available at the Farmers & Merchants State Bank parking lot. Starting at 5 p.m., the NY Mills Public Library will be hosting Bingo for Books where anyone can win their next favorite read.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, tree viewing will open at 9 a.m. and the evening will host a performing arts night with a 6:30 p.m. ballet recital by the Leona Cichy Ballet School, as well as a NY Mills High School Band concert at 7 p.m.

On Thursday, Dec. 4, tree viewing will open at 9 a.m. and a Craft and Sip-Make and Take event will be hosted by the NY Mills Regional Cultural Center from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

On Friday, Dec. 5, tree viewing will be available for all from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, the culmination of the week’s events will take place with the Lions Community Christmas Party “A Great Gatsby Christmas” with a 6 p.m. social hour and 7 p.m. dinner. The dance will feature the band “Pandemic Rocks.” Tickets for the Christmas Party will be available at Lakes Community Co-op, Cultural Center, Farmers & Merchants State Bank, NY Mills City Office and Mills Liquors.

Make sure to schedule some time this coming week for a whole lot of fun for the whole family.