It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Outdoor Christmas lights are appearing in area neighborhoods, radio stations are playing holiday music and live Christmas trees can be seen on the rooftops of cars as they make their way to homes to be decorated.

Locally, members of the Parkesburg Parks and Recreation Commission got into the spirit by decorating the gazebo in Minch Park on Nov. 27 with holiday lights, greens and wreaths, as well as a Christmas tree.

Also to usher in the holiday season, special events and activities have been planned by area organizations.

The Christiana Fire Company will escort Santa through Atglen Borough on Friday, Dec. 9, starting at 6 p.m. In addition to delivering candy canes, Santa and his helpers will collect nonperishable food items for the Octorara Area Food Cupboard.

The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum, 50 S. First Ave., Coatesville, will present its annual holiday open house on Dec. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m. The event will include live holiday music by the Lukens Band, a train display and refreshments. Children will be able to visit with Santa Claus and make holiday tree ornaments to take home.

In addition to the open house, attendees will be able to stroll the grounds of the Lukens National Historic District, where luminarias will light the way between each of the historic houses. Tour guides will be stationed at both the 1889 Graystone Mansion and nearby Terracina. For more information, visit http://www.steelmuseum.org.

Limeville United Methodist Church (UMC), 5783 Limeville Road, Gap, will present a free Kids' Christmas Event on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. Children will be able to visit with Santa, hear the Christmas story, make crafts and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate. Santa will be on hand and available for photos.

A Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place outdoors at 4:45 p.m. Hot dogs will be served following the ceremony. The public is also invited to attend Christmas Eve services at Limeville UMC at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24. For more information, call 717-442-4010 or visit http://www.facebook.com/LimevilleUMC.

A Christmas craft fair featuring 30 vendors, food and photos with Santa will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the West Fallowfield Township Building, 3095 Limestone Road, Cochranville. There will also be an opportunity to win gift baskets, with proceeds benefiting Mason Ellingworth, the Octorara Junior-Senior High School student who was involved in a serious tractor accident last summer.

It is not too late for Parkesburg area residents to participate in the Parkesburg Lions Club's holiday decorating contest. Interested homeowners should send a message to the club's Facebook page, which can be found by searching for "Parkesburg Lions Club - New and Improved," and they will be given a registration number. Judging of the registered homes will take place on Friday, Dec. 16. Prizes will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place winners. For more information, email parkesburglions@gmail.com or send a message on Facebook.