With hopes for favorable weather for its third edition, organizers of this year’s Christmas on the Square are putting an expanded list of events and activities together that will lead up to the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree.

Set for Wednesday, December 4, this year’s Christmas on the Square will begin at around 4:00 p.m. that afternoon with a schedule of holiday related happenings designed to put everyone in the holiday spirit, regardless of age

Led by U.K. Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Christy Nuetzman, the group of volunteer organizers met again Monday morning to begin putting finishing touches on this year’s downtown gathering.

The Christmas on the Square is co-hosted by both the Extension Service and the Clinton County Public Library.

The new Clinton County Library Bookmobile will be on hand for much of the ceremony, acting as a host and hub area for the library sponsored Storybook Tour.

After a tremendously successful inaugural run in 2017, the return of the downtown holiday celebration and kickoff to the Christmas season was canceled last year, with inclement weather moving in to force organizers to cancel the 2018 event after weeks of planning.

For 2019, the event organizers are not only planning on an expanded schedule of activities, but are certainly hoping for more cooperative weather conditions from Mother Nature.

One thing that will be new to this year’s Christmas on the Square lineup will be the actual tree itself.

Nuetzman said Monday that Clinton County Judge/Executive Ricky Craig had reported that a new Christmas tree had been purchased for permanent planting in the courthouse lawn.

A 12 feet tall Canadian Hemlock tree has been purchased and will be planted in the next few days, making it a perpetual Christmas Tree that local residents can watch grow in size as time progresses.

Also making a return this year to the lineup of celebration events will be the downtown window decorating contest, which will revolve around the theme this year of “Let Your Light Shine.”

A winner in the window decorating contest will be determined by a “Viewer’s Choice manner of vote by those viewing the window entries on the afternoon and evening of the celebration.

Other events that those attending will find include a scavenger hunt, a Nativity Festival area, Reindeer Games, Storybook tours of the downtown area.

Details on the scavenger hunt, Nativity Festival and the other events will be released as plans are finalized.

Music will also again be a featured attraction for the Christmas themed celebration, with local entertainers and groups already signed up to provide entertainment and more expected to sign on before the Christmas on the Square arrives.

Of course, no Christmas Holiday celebration would be complete without an appearance from Santa, and once again he is set to find his way to the downtown Albany square to talk with fans of all ages.

The entire afternoon and evening schedule leads up to what is expected to be the grand finale, the lighting of the official Clinton County Christmas Tree, which is expected to happen shortly after 6:00 p.m.

Activities will be scattered all around the downtown area, giving those attending the opportunity to stay on the move in order to view and participate in the entire lineup of offerings.

The eventual grand finale, the lighting of the official Clinton County Christmas Tree, will find the crowd ending up on the southeast lawn of the courthouse.

Another returning feature to this 2019 celebration will be the opportunity local residents will have to place a family ornament onto the Clinton County Christmas Tree.

Anyone is invited to bring an ornament with them and place it on the tree prior to the lighting, hopefully leaving it in place throughout the holiday season.

Also returning from schedules of the first two years will be a First and Farmer’s Bank Photo Booth near its downtown location, as well as a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest at the Monticello Banking Company’s Albany location.

Guffey noted on Monday that as word gets out about the return of Christmas on the Square, individuals and groups – clubs and churches – were expected to inquire about getting on board to be a part of this community celebration in one form or another.

Also included in this year’s lineup will be a display of nativity scenes.

Anyone who had a personal Nativity scene and would like to share and display it that afternoon for the celebration, would be welcomed to do so.

She urged anyone who was hoping to be involved in any way to contact her as soon as possible by calling the Extension office at 606-387-5404.

Nuetzman added that a firm deadline for anyone wanting to be involved had been set at Monday, November 25, including the Nativity scene display and window decorating contest.