Tamaqua plans Spirit of Christmas Festival

Tamaqua’s Spirit of Christmas Festival has been expanded to include events held over a five day period, from Wednesday through Dec. 3.

The festival will begin with a Mistletoe Reception, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday. There will be refreshments, music and fun at the Flat Iron Building at 101 E. Broad St.

Multiple events are scheduled for Thursday. From 6 to 9 p.m., there will be a Downtown Holiday Market with local businesses scheduled to be open extra hours, along with a number of pop-up shops; an Indoor Artisan Fair will be held in the Salvation Army Community Center, 105 W. Broad St.; a Christmas cookie contest will be held at the Tamaqua Train Station, with a magic show by Jon Bonner; and Frosty and Friends will be in Depot Square Park. Holiday music will be provided throughout the evening by the Victorian Chorale and the Coalcracker Barbershop Chorus.

Santa will arrive on Dec. 1. The parade will begin in the area of the Tamaqua Post office on East Broad Street, then head west to Depot Square Park at the Five Points before Santa and Mrs. Claus hold a meet and greet at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. Each child will receive a treat. The Revive Community Fellowship will host a night of games, Boy Scouts will be selling hot chocolate and the Tamaqua Community Theatre will present “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m.

Events on Dec. 2 start with Breakfast With Santa, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Tamaqua Salvation Army Center. There will be a kids’ crafts event at the art center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., an open house at Stonehedge Gardens in South Tamaqua from noon to 4 p.m. and a second presentation of “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m.

The festival wraps up Dec. 3, with a matinee performance of “The Nutcracker” at 3 p.m. and the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 6 p.m. in Depot Square Park.

There are fees for some of the events, such as the Mistletoe Reception, the Santa breakfast and the play presentations.