Now that we all have enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner that could not be beat it is time for making our Christmas plans. Small towns like Highland are the most charming places to be at Christmas spending time with your friends and neighbors, enjoying the holiday season, and having some fun. There are a couple of family friendly events that need to be placed on your To Do calendars. For several decades Christmas came to Eldred by way of the arrival of the Santa Express which was the most marvelous improbable concentration of Christmas magic and fun ever to behold. The Express had lights, snow, music, the Snow Queen, and Santa, and his friends that flew through the frigid cold nights visiting many towns throughout the County spreading Christmas cheer. Sadly, last year the Express succumbed to the ravages of the decades and was no longer able to operate safely but that did not stop the Monteleone family’s Christmas spirit. Last Christmas they had a marvelous Christmas themed light show at their HydroFarm. The light show was synchronized to music on radio. It was a lovely sight to see. I happen to live near the HydroFarm and both Lou and Frank Monteleone have been out there working all hours of the day and night installing more lights all over the field that will be added to their new light show this year. On Saturday, December 2nd starting at 4:30 the Celebrate Christmas in Eldred event will take place at Monteleone Gardens HydroFarm which will be the first showing of the newly expanded show. Santa and all his North Pole Friends will be there. A new innovative feature to the lightshow added this year is the addition of a wristband you can wear ($5.00@ the HydroFarm) that will broadcast the music that is synchronized with the light show. The North Pole Mailbox will be accepting letters to Santa, and there will be music, dancing and singalongs and magic reindeer treats and then Santa and his friends will light the Christmas Tree at Monteleone Gardens. Grab the kids and get your cameras ready for some great photos. Then enjoy the spectacular light show which I believe will be running through the New Year. The Christmas Time in Eldred event is sponsored by The Corner, The Monteleone Gardens HydroFarm and the Pizza Piazza and will take place at 577 Route 55 in Eldred. For all the details go to Lou Monteleone’s Facebook page.

On Saturday, December 2nd starting at 7pm the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce will be having their Annual Tree Lighting in Barryville at the junction of Route 55 and 97 by the Shohola Bridge. In 2007 The Chamber of Commerce planted a concolor evergreen tree also known as a Colorado Fir in the Cul de sac area across from McKeans. Today it towers skyward to at least thirty feet so the Town has its own living Christmas tree in a beautiful spot right on the banks of the Delaware River with a clear view of our magical wintery night sky. I had a chance to get the low down on what this year’s event will feature from the amazing host of the event Broadway singer, dancer, actor Erin West. “We are planning a wonderful evening of some down-home country Christmas entertainment”, Ms. West told me. The featured performances will be by singer Colin Cunliffe and Friends, Erin West, and a special performance by musician and author Mike Edison and his Rocket Train. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand in the Pavilion with hot cocoa and homemade treats compliments of Konrad’s Country Kitchen and The River’s Edge Restaurant and the small fire pits will be roaring away keeping everyone toasty warm. If you do not want to be outside by the Christmas Tree, you can tune into WJFF 90.5 FM also Facebook.com/wjffradio, and on facebook.com/greaterbarryvillechamberofcommerce and catch all the performances remotely. For some serious social distancing there is great viewing from the comfort of your car in the parking lot of McKean Real Estate. The Barryville Chamber’s Tree Lighting ceremony is a truly marvelous family friendly night and a not-to-be-missed event that starts our winter holidays. For more information about the Tree Lighting or our local Christmas shopping information visit the Chamber’s site at barryvilleny.com.