LIV-ETown and the Elizabethtown Area Chamber of Commerce have collaborated to kick off the holiday season with the Merry Grinchmas E-Town Tree Lighting. The festivities will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, with the tree lighting scheduled for 7 p.m.

"We decided to combine forces this year to provide a great experience for everyone, all in one place," said Denise Grove, executive director of the Chamber. The Chamber is organizing the tree lighting, which will happen in the parking lot of The Elizabeth, 18 N. Market St.

"We'll have a stage set up there with performances by local musicians and entertainers," said Cindy Telenko, owner of Twisted Easel, who is helping to coordinate the event. She added that Funk Brewing owner Jon Norman will be the master of ceremonies.

Additionally, Stone Gables Estate will provide a trolley that will transport visitors through town, with history on board provided by the Winters Heritage House Museum.

The Elizabethtown Public Library, 10 S. Market St., will feature The Train Guys with a display in the lower level, and Santa's Cottage will be set up in the square.

Santa will greet children at the cottage from 6 to 7 p.m. and will then return after the tree lighting from 8 to 9 p.m.

"We will be using a pager system prior to the tree lighting so anyone in line for seeing Santa won't lose their spot if they haven't seen him by 7 p.m. when he goes to light the tree with the Grumpy Grinch," explained Tony Gibble of LIV-ETown. "They will just resume their spot by being paged when it's their turn. This system also allows families to roam around while waiting as opposed to waiting in a line." Pagers may be picked up at the counter inside the Tatted Toy Guys Toy Emporium on the square.

"Prior to the tree lighting, there will be a meet-and-greet with the Grumpy Old Grinch," Tony stated. Additional activities will include free cookie decorating provided by the Elizabethtown Masons of the Treichler Lodge, a Mars Wrigley coloring contest and candy giveaway and a Candy Unicornium scavenger hunt to find the Whos' presents, ending with a candy prize as well as each participant being entered into a drawing for a grand prize.

Custom My Town E-Town stickers will be available to collect, and businesses will feature specials and activities throughout the event.

"Merry Grinchmas E-Town and the Chamber tree-lighting ceremony have become a hometown favorite, and LIV-ETown is so excited to be working with the Chamber to combine these two events into one big celebration of the holidays," said Clint Gibble of LIV-ETown. "If you're a fan of the original Grinch movie you'll remember it ends with the Whos singing around the town tree, and we hope to re-enact that to a point with this event."

Grove encourages everyone to come to Elizabethtown on Nov. 30, noting, "This is your opportunity to feel like you're in a Hallmark movie. I heard that so much last year at the tree lighting. It's going to be a fun time for everyone."

For more information on the event, follow LIV-ETown's Merry Grinchmas E-Town Tree Lighting event page on Facebook.