When Mount Joy holds its 25th annual Winterfest, the event will mark a return to holiday celebrations of the past, said Linda Eberly, Winterfest committee member.

"We will have lots of family-oriented activities," she stated. "We're bringing back things we did years ago at Winterfest."

Winterfest will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, in the downtown Mount Joy area on Main Street, from Market to Barbara streets.

It's being organized by a committee made up of representatives from local service organizations and community volunteers who wanted to offer a wide variety of activities at the event. The committee includes members of the Rotary Club of Mount Joy, Voyage Mount Joy, Kiwanis Club, Friends of Donegal and other organizations.

"We are going to have lots of great food at Winterfest," said committee member Ferne Silberman, who noted that the event will feature a food court set up on Delta Street, with overflow onto East Main Street.

Participating food vendors will include Bube's Brewery, Frisco's Chicken, Isaac's Craft Kitchen & Brewery, Rotary Club Fry Wagon, Two Cousin's, a taco food truck, Blue Stone Bakery, Hennigan's Restaurant and Bar, Spud Muffin, Piper Belle's BBQ and the Donut Guys. JB Hostetter & Sons will provide tables and chairs in the food court area.

"There will also be lots of great music," Eberly shared. Entertainers will include Trinity Lutheran Church choirs, Donegal Rhythm Singers, Sandy Heisey on the keyboard, Trevor and Rita Engel on violin and French horn and the Donegal Alumni Band. A stage, located near the borough office and food court, will be provided by Guardian Barrier Services. Ukulele Uprising will also play on the porch at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 27 E. Main St., during the event.

At 5 p.m., members of the Donegal Alumni Band will lead the crowd from the stage to the Rotary clock, where they will lead a carol sing-along, followed by a tree-lighting ceremony.

"We're bringing back a lot of the games we used to have for kids," Eberly remarked. Mount Joy Church of God, 30 E. Main St., will host a petting zoo with Valais Blacknose sheep, alpacas and llamas from Spooky Nook Farm. Little Shoppers, featuring gifts for purchase by cash only, will also be set up, along with stations for face painting, cornhole, crafts, balloon art, a prize wheel from Rainbow's End Youth Services and more. Members 1st, the major sponsor of Winterfest, will hold a coloring contest, with pages available to pick up at the Members 1st table at the event.

Rocky Acre Farm Bed and Breakfast will sponsor a children's train ride, which will begin in front of Sloan's Pharmacy, 61 E. Main St. Santa Claus will greet people at Sheetz Funeral Home, 16 E. Main St.

More than 30 nonprofit organizations, school groups and churches will have tables set up throughout the area, with many selling items as fundraisers for their organization. Mount Joy-area businesses will also have stands with promotional materials, prize wheels, drawings and giveaways.

"There's going to be so much to do, and it's just going to be a really fun event," Silberman said. "Come out and join in the fun."