Relive your memories of Christmas past, create new memories for Christmas future, and all the while revel in the excitement of Christmas present during the 13th edition of Mt. Carmel’s “Christmas Uptown - It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”.
Expanded in 2021 to include three full blocks of Market Street on Friday, December 3rd, from 4pm to 9pm, festival goers can enjoy 4 Scenic Carriage Rides, 2 North Pole Express Trains, and a Rustic Wagon Ride. Several Ponies will be available for Rudolph Rides, and all the rides are free to the public! Also part of this family event, you have a chance to “create your own treat” at the S’Mores Making Station, even make a “take home” craft. Who wouldn’t want to take a few minutes to relive everyone’s favorite narratives of Christmas at Storytime with Mrs. Claus, and even talk to Santa himself on the Harris Insurance Group Pavilion after winding through the Festival of Trees in Merchants Park. Maybe you’d like to join the fun at the Festive Face Painting station, also providing a specially created balloon animal for the children. Again, there is no charge for these activities, thanks to the dozens of community minded sponsors and volunteers.
While you’re inside the Wabash County Museum visiting local authors, offering their newest books, you’ll absolutely want to vote for the best entries in the Gingerbread House competition. You can even enter your own creation, just visit our Facebook page for guidelines and a link to the entry form. Inside the Wabash Senior Center you’ll find take home kits to decorate your own cookie for just a $1 donation.
Parents, let the younger folks burn off some energy playing Kid Friendly games at the Winter Wonderland Play Zone, or take advantage of the multiple Character or Family Photo Ops, especially the giant new 10’ x 10’ backgrounds (including live characters from “Frozen” and “Polar Express”), right next to Veterans Park and the City of Mt. Carmel Christmas Tree. Throughout the entire evening we’ll bring you both the old and the new Sounds of Christmas! Relax with the “Families of Wabash County String Ensemble”, catch the Christmas Beat with the “Mt. Carmel High School Jazz Band”, gather round the “Strolling Victorian Carolers” (comprised of the MCHS Singing Seven), or just enjoy the background sounds of Christmas Uptown Radio.
Of course, you’ll no doubt be hungry. The vendors in Mistletoe Market, Santa’s Workshop and the Elves’ Cafe’ will be offering Sweets & Treats as well as fantastic festival food choices to satisfy almost every taste. Soups, Sandwiches, BBQ, Pizza, Drinks and more are just a sampling of the menu, along with candy, cookies, popcorn and caramel apples - who knows what you might find! Vendors will also offer craft and other dry goods items. For even more fun, be sure to shop the Market Street Retailers, many offering snacks, refreshments and really fantastic Christmas sales on the items you need to complete your Christmas shopping list.
And just one request we would make of you, please consider bringing a donation of a new toy, canned food item or cash, all to be donated to Operation Share, helping to create a better Christmas for many children and families in Wabash County for nearly 40 years. Just drop off those donations at the collection area next to the North Pole Info Center, where you will also find the festival map along with entry forms for the Sights & Sounds of Christmas Home Decorating contest.
Still want more Christmas in your life? Come back to Market Street the next day for the 55th Annual Mt. Carmel Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 4th, stepping off at 5 to 5:15pm. The Lighted Parade begins at 3rd Street and heads north to 8th Street. You can find more information on our Facebook pages, “Christmas Uptown Mt. Carmel” & “Wabash County Chamber”, or call either 618-263-8591(Festival) or 618-262-5116(Parade).
