Gear up for the Holiday Season!

        COUNTY -- The fifth year of the holiday lighting ceremony in downtown
            Harlan will kick off Saturday, Nov. 25 with lots of Christmas cheer and
            holiday events to start the season in Shelby County.
    The kick-off to the holiday season is a special one, with the lighting of the official Christmas tree, and the fifth year of the exciting lighting display on the courthouse square, completely choreographed to music.  Additional lighting displays are again located throughout town, including in Pioneer Park, as the community strives to become a Christmas City, complete with holiday lights and events during the holiday season.
    Saturday’s event kicks off at 5 p.m. on the east side of the square, complete with the lighting of the official Christmas tree, the arrival of Santa Claus, horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas carols, refreshments, marshmallow roasting, family movies at the Harlan Theatre, and returning this year – Santa’s Workshop.  Officials said come down Saturday evening for the beginning of the Christmas season.
    Todd Valline, executive director, Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, said the city is doing everything it did last year at the ceremony and have added some items as well.  Working with the city and Shelby County, the event continues to grow each year, he added.
    Thousands of lights will adorn the downtown Harlan square, including the official holiday tree that was put in place last week, donated by Marilyn Burger of Harlan.   The lighting of the Christmas tree gets under way at 5:30 p.m.
    The event officially kicks off the holiday shopping season as well.  Shop Small Saturday is a nationwide event encouraging residents to shop in small businesses in their hometowns.  “Looking forward to having everyone enjoy the many great shopping deals around the county on Small Business Saturday, and then joining us for the lighting of the tree and festivities that evening,” Valline said.