Jerin Juillerat (left) and Marvin Tudor (right), of the Disciples of Christ Foundation of Huntington, present Capt. Barbara McCauley of the Huntington Salvation Army with a check for $5,000 on Friday, Dec. 19, the proceeds of the group’s kettle drive this holiday season. McCauley says the donation represents the largest single gift from the kettle drive to date.

Local churches in Huntington County are getting ready to celebrate the winter holidays.

The following churches have scheduled special services and festivities to take place on Dec. 24, 25, 31 or Jan. 1 to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and usher in the New Year.  

Andrews United Meth-odist Church, located at the corner of Main Street and McKeever Street, Andrews, will have a candlelight Christmas Eve service at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 24.

Heather Christle (left) helps her daughter, Ember Christle, glue decorations on a slice of wood that will become a Christmas ornament. The two were taking part in the Holiday Craft Bash held Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Salamonie Interpretive Center. The session was part of a year-long series of programs for preschoolers sponsored by the center.

The Indiana Dream Center invites the community to a free luncheon on Christmas day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s First Community Church.

The traditional, all-you-can-eat meal will feature ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and desserts. Dine-in, carry-out or delivery is available.

The church is located at 206 Etna Ave., Huntington. For more information or to schedule delivery of meals call 356-5310 or text 519-0168.

Santa Claus makes a big entrance at The Trading Post in Huntington on Saturday, Dec. 20, on top of a fire truck from Huntington Fire Departrment Station 3.

Volunteer Dixie Harrold displays some of the items donated for Huntington County Right to Life’s 35th annual Christmas Care & Share program.  This year, the group will provide items for 24 children. Each child will receive numerous gifts and each family will receive wrapping materials and a gift card for groceries.

Ellen Leymon (left) and Oma Zent study a Christmas tree at the third annual Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees, held in the Fults Recreation Room at Heritage Pointe, in Warren, on Friday, Dec. 12. The event, which continued on Saturday, Dec. 13, featured more than a dozen trees decorated by individuals, families and Heritage Pointe departments.

April Zerbe, of Huntington, mulls over possible gifts for her 15-year-old daughter Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Love In the Name of Christ’s Christmas Gift Shop. The store, featuring toys and items for teenagers, is held at the Café of Hope at Life Church in Huntington.

Pathfinder Services client Kelly Anderson (left) rests her head on Santa Claus' shoulder after receiving a gift at a Christmas party hosted by American Legion Post 85, in Huntington, on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 13.

A scene from the Living Lights show at tte Zanesville United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 12. The show's 50,000 lights are synchronized with modern Christmas music, with Scripture reading by children of the church. The 20-minute show repeats each day from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1. The church is located at 11811 N. Wayne St., Zanesville.

Carol Baker wraps gifts to add to the growing pile of presents on her table on Friday evening, Dec. 12, as more than 380 volunteers filled the Markle Church of Christ on both Friday and Saturday to wrap 6,600 gifts that were to be distributed to 291 families in Huntington and Wells counties today, Sunday, Dec. 14. Community members donated gifts and cash to purchase additional items for the annual program, which is coordinated by the Karing for Kids organization.

Madison Murray, 8, of Bluffton, enjoys a candy cane while perusing which treats to buy from Nadean’s Cakes, Cookies and Catering during the Markle “Christmas in our Town” event, Sunday, Dec. 7. Madison is the daughter of Angie Murray, of Bluffton.

Earlynn Worster (left), of Markle, describes the Avon products she is looking for to Nadean Brown on Sunday, Dec. 7. The display was set up in Nadean’s bake shop in downtown Markle, part of the “Christmas in our Town” celebration.

Brooke Bessette (left) and Dylan Bessette concentrate on making ornaments during the first Andrews Christmas Celebration, held in the town’s municipal building on Saturday night, Dec. 6.

Julia Rhoades, of Fort Wayne, a member of the Miami Indiana Alliance for Miami Indians, inserts an electric candle in a hurricane lamp at the Chief LaFontaine house on the campus of the Fort of the Wabash Historic Park on Saturday morning, dec. 6. The home was open for tours, some refreshments and sales of native-made crafts at a Christmas open house.

Hallie Kinsey, 4, of Huntington colors pictures of toys soliders,which will be sent to the troops overseas, as he father, John Kinsey, lends a hand during the Christmas in the Village at Roanoke on Friday evening, Dec. 5.

Eight-year-old Chloe North, of Roanoke, is the first one to tell Santa Claus what she wants for Christmas this year as the Jolly Old Elf made his appearance at Christmas in the Village at Roanoke on Friday evening, Dec. 5. The child is the daughter of Matthew and Gabriela North.

Anxious kids and their families wait in the rain for Santa Claus to arrive at Roanoke for Christmas in the Village on Friday night, Dec. 5.

The Forks of the Wabash Historic Park will sponsor the 10th annual “Christmas at the Forks” celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7.

Trees and wreaths have been decorated by local businesses and service organizations. They are on display in the community room of the Visitors Center.

A gingerbread house shines in Shakespeare Gardens, with other lights visible in the background, following the lighting ceremony Sunday evening, Nov. 30. The lights at Sunken Gardens and Shakespeare Gardens will be turned on every evening from 6 to 10 through Jan. 1, and the display will be dismantled on Jan. 2.

A “Merry Christmas” wreath that once adorned the Wolf & Dessauer building in downtown Huntington shines over Sunken Gardens following the Christmas lighting ceremony Sunday evening, Nov. 30. The lights at Sunken Gardens and Shakespeare Gardens will be turned on every evening from 6 to 10 through Jan. 1, and the display will be dismantled on Jan. 2.

It’s Christmas all over Huntington County this weekend.

Santa Claus arrives in Roanoke Friday evening, Dec. 5, to kick off the Christmas in the Village celebration.

Then it’s off to Markle Saturday morning, Dec. 6, for an appearance at Christmas in Our Town.

Finally, on Saturday evening, Santa will be a special guest in Andrews for the first-ever Christmas Celebration in that community.

When “Messiah” is performed at St. Mary Catholic Church on Dec. 7, it will mark the 60th year for the community performance of Handel’s work in Huntington.

Performers currently include Huntington University’s concert choir and a group of community members, who are joining in a tradition that has been occurring annually around the world since 1742.

George Killian, chair of the music department at HU, says the  performance is the best way to usher in the Christmas season. HU’s free annual performance is “something we give to our community,” he says.

Christmas in a Canal Town features multiple events on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Lagro.

The day begins with the Snowball Run 5K run/walk in downtown Lagro, starting with registration at 8 a.m. and crossing the starting line at 9 a.m.
Events at the Log Cabin, on the east end of Lagro, include Santa, Mrs. Claus and Lou the Elf. The Andrews Lions Club will be selling citrus and horse-drawn wagon rides are available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a fee.

The Zanesville United Methodist Church presents “Living Lights,” a display of 50,000 LED lights synchronized with Christmas music from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, running from Thanksgiving through Jan. 1.

The 20-minute show, which can be viewed from the comfort of your car, features a variety of modern Christmas music with the choreographed light show. Children of the church participate in offering recorded scripture tied to the music. The display is free.

Caden Douglas (left) talks with Santa Claus in the lobby of The New Huntington Theater in downtown Huntington during Christmas in the City on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Adia Stiles (right) rides a pony being guided by Josi Cripe, of Animal-Grams, in downtown Huntington during the Christmas in the City event on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Salvation Army trumpet players Jason Sell (left) and Rob Owen accompany carolers in front of Antiqology in downtown Huntington during Christmas in the City on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Anya Jain (left) visits with Santa Claus at the Knight-Bergman Center in Warren on Friday evening, Nov. 28, during the Winter Warrenland event.

Penny Hippensteel (right) helps her grandson, Charlie Hippensteel, with his cookie during the Winter Warrenland event on Friday evening, Nov. 28, at the Knight-Bergman Center, where participants could eat snacks and talk with Santa.