Akron's third Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will take place on Friday, Nov. 25, in the parking lot at Weiser's Market, 805 Main St., Akron. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and will have more features than previous years.

Everything will be free for families. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the first 75 families in attendance will each receive a handmade ornament. There will also be doughnuts or cookies, as well as hot chocolate or coffee, and Christmas music will add to the atmosphere. This year, Carol Stark's family will light the tree in her memory.

A vintage fire truck will transport Santa to the tree lighting at about 7 p.m. Children can line up to sit on Santa's lap for pictures and to receive a special gift.

Special decorations around town that can be viewed that evening will include ornaments by the Akron clock, new Christmas lights at the entrance to Broad Street Park, and wreaths hung on light posts. Event organizer Katrina Zimmerman and her husband, Kleon, a Borough Council member, will hang the 28 wreaths on 14 lamp posts before the tree-lighting ceremony. Katrina hopes to increase the number of wreaths hung next year.

The community is asked to bring along a food item that will be donated to Ephrata Area Social Services.

Katrina began coordinating the event during the pandemic, when not many Christmas events were being held locally. She met with Mayor John McBeth and local residents to plan the first year's event, during which visitors received handmade wooden ornaments and hot chocolate.

Katrina plans to expand the event each year and recognizes the many volunteers who support the event, including Lea Burkholder and Rebecca Shuey. Donors and contributors include Tim Weiser of Weiser's Market, the Akron Fire Department, and Alex Burkholder's Affordable Lawn Care.