It is a day like no other in New Holland. Streets close ... crafters put their creativity on display ... local teens stroll the through town singing ... and businesses, churches, restaurants, and more all contribute to the festive atmosphere.

Christmas on Main - the event that kicks off the local holiday season - will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. North and South Roberts Avenue will close at 10 a.m., and a section of Main Street will be closed from 2 to 6 p.m. Highlights of the event will include food vendors, a car show, and the arrival of Santa Claus, followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree on Towne Centre Green.

According to Jen Parsons, representative of the New Holland Business Association, which organizes the event, two Christmas Markets will be held to give attendees an enhanced shopping experience. The traditional market will be held in the New Holland Farmers Day Association building at the corner of Roberts Avenue and Franklin Street from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Down Franklin Street, a second market will be take place at Warehouse 100 as well. More than 40 total vendors are expected to participate.

A car show, featuring classic and vintage automobiles, will be held on Main Street between Roberts and Custer avenues from noon to 3 p.m. South Roberts Avenue will be lined with nearly a dozen food vendors, including those selling coffee, doughnuts, hot dogs, tacos, nachos, barbecued chicken, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, chicken corn soup, french fries, and kettle popcorn.

To add to the seasonal feel, GMDSounds will spin tunes on North Roberts Avenue beginning at noon, and Santa Claus will arrive at Towne Centre Green, at the corner of Main Street and North Roberts Avenue, via a Garden Spot Fire Rescue truck at 2 p.m. Santa will greet children in his hut, donated by Lapp Structures, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The true reason for the season will be celebrated with a live Nativity in front of Smoker Gard Associates on Main Street beginning at 2 p.m. Members of Lighthouse Assembly of God Church will create the scene and sing Christmas carols.

Round-trip carriage rides and hayrides will originate at Stauffer's Drug Store from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Also beginning at 2:30 p.m., New Holland Fair Queen and Garden Spot High School (GSHS) senior Kendell Moats will read Christmas stories to children at Towne Centre Greene.

Among the many musical performances planned for the event will be a program by the LV Singers from Lighthouse Vocational Rehabilitation near the Christmas tree at Towne Centre Greene at 4:30 p.m. Students from the GSHS Vocal Ensemble will stroll and carol during the afternoon while members of the New Holland Band will also stroll and play. Just prior to the tree lighting at 5 p.m., the two entities will partner to perform at Towne Centre Greene. "It adds such a nice ambiance to lighting the tree," said Parsons. Moats will have the honor of flipping the switch to illuminate the community Christmas tree at 5 p.m.

An updated schedule of events may be found at http://www.christmasonmain.com.