Within the last week or two, strings of merry holiday lights have appeared along the buildings and on the street trees of downtown. Hillsboroites know, when this happens, downtown’s Winter Holidays community festivals and events are right around the corner.
This year’s holiday season will be kicked off with the Hometown Holidays Festival and Artisans’ Fair, held this Saturday, November 20, outside the Hillsboro Civic Center at 150 E. Main Street. Entry to the event is free and, from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, local craftspeople and artisans will be showcasing their work at a holiday marketplace coordinated by Hillsboro Tuesday Night Market. At the same time, the festival area will abound with seasonal cheer provided by carolers, live music and entertainment, a visit by Santa or Mrs. Claus, and activities for all ages. Food and drink will be available. Downtown merchants will also be open for business and will host a variety of in-shop activities and promotions. The jolly event will culminate in the annual lighting of the city’s holiday tree at 6:00 pm. Hillsboro Downtown Partnership and the City of Hillsboro, the event’s principal organizers, look forward to seeing you there.
By the way, Hillsboro Downtown Partnership is currently seeking more volunteers to serve as “helper elves” at the Hometown Holidays Festival and Artisans’ Fair. Various shifts and roles are available. Elves may be groups, unaccompanied teens (16+), seniors, etc. All who would like to help out are welcomed. Please visit the elf registration web page.
Wait, there’s more! Hot on Hometown Holidays’ heels, another Hillsboro winter holidays tradition will be adding more pizzazz to downtown’s storefronts. The event, called Winter Window Takeover, sees seasonal scenes and themes painted on shops’ display windows. Hillsboro Downtown Partnership is currently recruiting artists and businesses to participate in the temporary art installation event. Please contact Tess at tess@downtownhillsboro.org. Those interested are asked to inquire by no later than November 21.
Yes – Downtown Businesses are looking forward to Holly Days and the tree lighting which will include both Santa & Mrs. Claus arriving in a festive sleigh.
Can you please give photo credit to these photos of the window takeover to Aaron Andersen. Thank you
Of course. I apologize, Aaron. If the photos were properly attributed in last year’s article from which I pulled them, I missed it. My policy is to always credit others’ work and, if I knew, I would’ve asked your permission for use beforehand. Thanks for letting The Herald use these photos.
I appreciate the new naming convention for these downtown events. “Holly Days” and “Safe and Sane” sounded as if they were written in crayon.
Many memories of going to the Town Theatre on the 1st Saturday in December, seeing a free movie and coming out to see Santa in the Lobby and getting the wonderful little bag of peanuts in the shell and candies. Was lucky enough to move back to the area so that my girls could experience it as well before they stopped doing it. I believe the event was sponsored by the Rotary Club.