Sun staff
Amelia village council members announced that they will be hosting their first Christmas Tree Lighting event in the village this year.
Councilman Chris Dickerson, who serves on the recreation commission, announced that they would be having the event this year.
“We decided it was time for the village to have its first official tree lighting,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson said initially they were planning to plant a tree that would be used for the tree lighting year after year.
He said this year however, a tree was donated for the event by Big Tree Plantation, in Morrow.
“This is a tree that has to come down anyway, that is the reason he offered the live tree,” Dickerson said.
Although the tree was donated, Dickerson said they also purchased a tree from the plantation to plant in one of the village parks.
He said they would like to make a tradition to plant a tree in a park each year.
Dickerson said the Christmas Tree Lighting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at the Morse House located at 40 Oak Street in Amelia.
He said there will be hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and other refreshments.
“We are hoping to have a good crowd of people and be able to build off of that,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson said it will be nice to have a weekend full of events with the Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
He said they are also planning to do some holiday decorating in the village.
Other townships and villages will be hosting annual tree lighting events in Clermont County.
Batavia Township trustees will have their tree lighting event Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Batavia Township Community Center. The event will feature carols sung by Batavia Elementary School students, refreshments and a visit from Santa.
Miami Township will have its tree lighting and open house event from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Miami Township Civic Center. Children will be able to visit with Santa, decorate cookies and have their faces painted during the event. The tree will be lit at 5:15 p.m.
New Richmond will have its tree lighting ceremony at 6:15 p.m. Dec. 13 during A River Village Christmas. The ceremony will follow the kick-off parade at 6 p.m.