It will be a weekend filled with the holiday spirit when Middleburgh, Schoharie, Sharon Springs, and Esperance all welcome Christmas, beginning Friday.
Middleburgh’s Miracle on Main will run from 5:30-9pm Friday with three dozen vendors, carolers, plenty of refreshments, and more.
A tree lighting at 6pm will officially kick off the fun.
There will also be photos with Santa, horse and carriage rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, the Candy Cane Express, a light show with DJ MTECH, face painting, and more.
Businesses will be open with specials.
Christmas in Schoharie will run all day Saturday, beginning at 8am with a pancake breakfast at the firehouse and wrapping up with a free showing of the Polar Express at the United Presbyterian Church at 7pm.
In between, there will be pictures with Santa, ornament-making, music and other fun all day long at the firehouse.
From 11am-4pm, there will be craft vendors at Lasell Hall and Christ the Shepherd Church and at 1pm, there will be a reading of The Night Before Christmas in the courtyard at 290 Main Street.
The Night Before Christmas will also be the theme of this year’s 5pm parade, from Depot Lane to Lasell Hall, where a tree lighting and the naming of the parade winners will follow.
Businesses will be offering a variety of holiday-themed specials.
Sharon Springs’ Christmas celebration will span three days.
Friday will be the Parade of Lights, beginning at the school and following a 6pm tree lighting and the laying of a memorial wreath by the American Legion.
The parade will head down Park and Beechwood Streets to the firehouse, where there will be refreshments and kids can visit with Santa.
Saturday and Sunday will be the Victorian Celebration, with vendors at the Roseboro and holiday cheer and goods at local shops both Saturday and Sunday.
HBH Clydesdales will be on hand with free horse-drawn carriage rides, there will be music by Broadway pianist Kevin Finn-Padilla balloon twisting for kids, and a magician.
In Esperance, festivities will begin at 10am at the museum, decorated with a Holly Dolly theme, where there will be a chance to shop for Esperance-themed souvenirs and crafts, refreshments, music, and a basket raffle.
From noon-7pm, the fire department will host vendors and kids’ activities, a Christmas story with Santa at 3pm, and hay rides around the village until 6pm as well as a spaghetti dinner by donation at the fire house from 3-6pm.
Festivities will wrap up with the lighting of the Christmas tree at 6pm, followed by the announcement of the winners of the home decorating contest.