Story and photos submitted by Christmas in Montrose.
Looking Forward to a Montrose Christmas
On December 6, 7, and 8th, Montrose will be transformed into a wonderland for families to enjoy. This year’s theme is “Candy Cane Lane.”
Let’s light up Montrose! This year will be the first-ever Holiday Light Decorating Contest. The contest is open to all homes, apartments, and businesses in the borough. Bonus points will be awarded to participants that match the Christmas in Montrose theme for 2024, “Candy Cane Lane.” First prize business winners will receive $500 cash and the second-place winner will receive $250 cash. The residential first place winner will receive $1,000 cash and the runner up will receive $500 cash! What a joyful way to bring the holiday spirit to Montrose.
The fun begins Friday evening when Santa’s reindeer visit The Green. Be sure to bring the kids Friday from 4-7:00 PM. The reindeer will only be here on Friday evening. It’s a very busy time for them and they cannot stay for the weekend!
Another surprise! For the first time, the vendors will open for business on Friday evening and Candy Cane Lane will be humming with activity. Just imagine The Green lit up at night with the “storefronts” decorated inviting shoppers in.
Also Friday night, the popular “Take a Bite Out of Christmas” kicks off the weekend with a variety of advance-sale ticketed tours including the Sugarplum House Tour, the Snowflake Express Tour, the Silver Bells Church Tour and the History-Mystery Tour. Each of the tours is an opportunity to learn about a piece of the rich history of Montrose and each tour has a unique mode of transportation depending on the theme of the tour including a hayride, a school bus, and walking.
Friday evening highlights include the United Fire Company’s Parade of Lights and the Santa Roll of Chocolates by Leopold fame.
If you like to run, jog, or walk then you will want to be in town early Saturday morning for the Jingle Bell 5K. Dress up in a festive outfit or just try to stay warm. The 5K has grown every year and is fun for those who participate as well as for those who come to watch!
Saturday has something for everyone. including the Village “Storefronts” on The Green, horse and buggy rides, train rides, vendors galore, Santa, the Festival of Trees, and a Gingerbread House contest. Many of the churches in town will be participating in various ways, selling baked goods, crafts, lunches, and much more. A farmer’s market will be at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church and families can also find the petting zoo in the yard by the church. Businesses in town will be open and ready to welcome all those visiting throughout the day on Saturday.
On Sunday things wrap-up with the Christmas Chorale at 3:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church. This never fails to bring the spirit of the season into the hearts of those attending.
These are just some highlights of this magical Christmas in Montrose weekend. There is so much more that you will hear and read about in the upcoming weeks as the planning continues. To find more in depth information about these events go to our website or check us out on Facebook. Also, WPEL and The Happenings Magazine will be featuring segments about Christmas in Montrose in November, and don’t forget to watch for upcoming articles in your local papers.
Shopping During Christmas in Montrose
You have been reading and hearing about all the special activities planned for the weekend, the Friday night only visit from Santa’s reindeer, Take a Bite Out of Christmas, 70 vendors on the Green, a petting zoo, pictures with Santa, the Festival of Trees, local churches featuring their own Christmas stores, the Christmas Chorale at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday, and so much more!
Now it’s time to let you know what will be happening at our local business on this very busy weekend.
Hometown Finds is owned by mother-daughter duo Ruthie and Leah, who also own Hometown Furniture just down the street. They are enthusiastically looking forward to Christmas in Montrose weekend!
On Friday, and Sunday, there will outside shopping. At the fire pit all the ingredients for s’mores will be available for anyone wanting to take part in this favorite activity!
On Saturday only, outside, you don’t want to miss the Rambling Rose Trailer featuring specialty holiday drinks (non-alcoholic). A lovely fire will be burning, and the beautiful decorations will add to the holiday spirit.
Walking into the store is like walking into a treasure chest of gift ideas. You will find beautiful items to help you decorate for Christmas as well as many original gifts. If you love home décor ,you will not be disappointed. And to top everything off, they also have a clothing boutique.
When you walk into Hometown Furniture, the first thing you will notice is the amazing smells coming from Lydia’s Bake Shop. Lydia is also Ruthie’s daughter, but with a different specialty. Rumor has it, Lydia will be featuring new cookies this Christmas season; you will not want to miss out on them!
The furniture at Hometown Furniture is all made in the USA! Come sink into a chair that will make you want your blanket and book.
Another fun experience for Christmas in Montrose weekend is a photo op where friends, family, or just a nice picture of yourself will brighten the day and make a great gift.
At The Lilly Pad, Jody Clary has been providing the community with a unique shopping experience in a welcoming atmosphere for years. Known for her decorating ability, Jody outdoes herself during the Christmas season. Outside and inside, you will feel like you have entered a winter wonderland.
Inside the shop on Saturday, Venice to Madrid will be hosting a wine sampling. Those who have experienced their wines and those who have not will want to take part. There will also be a dip sampling bar to titillate your taste buds.
When it comes to shopping what can’t you find is a much shorter list than what can you find. It’s the perfect stop to do some of your Christmas shopping with beautiful gift items to choose from and lots of fun decorating items. The selection of unique outfits in the boutique section will make a perfect gift for those on your list with distinctive tastes.
On Saturday, outside the Lilly Pad, the Keir Family Distillery will be on hand for you to sample their small-batch whiskey and artisan spirits. Keir’s is a family-owned and operated farm and was the first distillery in Bradford County.
You will also have the opportunity to experience wine from the Lucchi Family Wine Cellars. This is a family-run winery; the grapes they use are home-grown or imported from across the globe.
Across the street, Country Trails Brewing Co. will have samplings of their unique craft beers. There is something for everyone!
From the Heart will be decorated for the town Light Up Montrose contest. Owner Twyla Puterbaugh is looking forward to Christmas in Montrose weekend. She loves listening to customers as they come in chatting about the new events and attractions that have been added each year. This unique gift shop has been a favorite place to shop for many years, and this year will be no different. It seems nutcrackers are in abundance this year. Twyla said, “Everywhere you look, you will find something to do with nutcrackers!”
Walking through the door, you will be greeted with a selection of choices from winter hats, scarves, and mittens to jewelry, candles, and specialty food items.
Twyla will be offering 15% off your entire purchase on Saturday, so be sure to stock up on stocking stuffers and gifts!
Kidz Consignment is the place to stop for free hot chocolate and kids will receive a free craft! Owner Jennifer Strickland will also be offering discounts on Saturday.
Slanted Art, owned by Susan and Chas Zellner, is always fun to shop. Multiple artists display their wares and none of them are the same. Beautifully decorated on the outside and inside, be prepared for an abundance of choices. Slanted Art will also be hosting the Gingerbread Contest this year; you will not want to miss all the entries!
The Reimel Centre, now owned by John and Doreen Tillman, will be providing lots of entertainment in the upcoming months. The weekend of Christmas in Montrose is no exception. The Endless Mountains Theater Group will be presenting the Farndale Christmas Carol on Friday and Saturday at 7:00 PM and on Sunday at 2:00 PM. Get your tickets and be prepared to be entertained by this comedy, which is a stage version of A Christmas Carol.
Student Elves at Work at SCCTC
While there are so many activities and special things about the celebration, a very popular part is the vendors on The Green in the center of Montrose. There are over 70 vendors to make for a delightful shopping experience. Those vendors who are a part of the storefront walkway will decorate their storefront with lights and use their own creativity to make for an overall shopping experience of a “Hallmark” Christmas Village. Hundreds of people from near and far will come to Montrose to kick off their holiday celebration. Many are new to the event and others have been involved for many, many years.
A popular topic of discussion during the Christmas holiday season is Santa and his elves busy making toys for the kids. Although I have never visited Santa’s workshop, I came close to it last week when I visited the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center (SCCTC) at the Elk Lake School. I was asked to write a story about the additional storefronts for vendors on The Green being constructed at the school. I contacted Mr. Cody Mowry, the new teacher in the woodshop and carpentry center, and scheduled an appointment to stop in. How lucky for me! Although there were no pointed hats or elves’ shoes, the enthusiasm and skill of the students compared to what I would expect to see in Santa’s own workshop was truly evident. Dressed in jeans and steel-toed shoes along with eye protective glasses, the shop full of boys worked steadily on the full-sized storefronts. As a retired teacher, I felt the exhilaration of the students showing off what they were building, as if I were back in my second-grade classroom with my students’ excitement of accomplishment. They then proudly posed for pictures. When the storefronts are completed, they will be delivered and set up on The Green. A special thank you is extended to not only the students but also Mr. Mowry who has taken on this project which will benefit the community.
Early in the morning on Friday, December 6th WNEP’s Nikkie Krize will be live in Montrose to broadcast features of the holiday celebration. The students from SCCTC will be a part of the program.