Fredericktown Community prepares for 20th annual Christmas walk
FREDERICKTOWN – The Fredericktown community is preparing to host its 20th annual Christmas Walk and Charity Auction on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 7 p.m. Though there have been many adaptations to this event, what has not changed is the partnership with Food For The Hungry of Knox County to help raise funds to support Fredericktown Interchurch, the Fredericktown Salvation Army and the Fredericktown Community Relief Fund. During this uncertain time, the number of people in need of assistance continues to rise.
Virtual Charity Auction
The Charity Auction provides funds to help meet the needs of food and emergency services to people who never thought they would find themselves in a difficult situation. Families, friends, neighbors, churches and organizations are encouraged to partner to create baskets, including service offerings and gift certificates to donate. Due to the current health situation, the auction this year will be virtual. Pictures of the donations will be featured on our Facebook page and bidding for items will be made in the Comment section. Donations may be dropped off at the Senior Citizen’s Building the day of the event or at the municipal office and TD Landscape (300 Salem Ave. Ext.) in advance. The auction will start on Dec. 5 and end on Dec. 14.
Virtual Santa Fun Run
Last year’s run was a huge success, and this year’s fun run will be held virtually! Tom Caputo, the state cross country winner, has laid out a course around town that can be run anytime between Dec. 5-14. To register, check out Fredericktown Annual Christmas Walk and Auction’s Facebook page. Upon registration, a runner can report times on Eventbrite with the link provided. A commemorative shirt is available for purchase at the time of registration.
Events
A virtual Gingerbread House Contest will be featured on Fredericktown Annual Christmas Walk and Auction’s Facebook page. To vote on a gingerbread house, 'like' and comment beneath that picture. The house with the most likes will get a commemorative gingerbread trophy. If you would like to vote by donating to the Christmas Walk in-person, there will be a limited number of gingerbread houses on display at Aunt Ruth’s Attic (167 N. Main St.).
This year’s commemorative ornament features the iconic image of the “Gingerbread Man.” This unique ornament was created by a local business, Traditions Engraving, and will be on display at Aunt Ruth’s Attic. Ornaments are available for purchase at Aunt Ruth’s Attic or TD Landscape before the walk and the day of the event. The ornament and T-shirt are available for purchase on Fredericktown Annual Christmas Walk and Auction’s Facebook page.
Ice sculptures will be featured around the downtown area. The community is welcome to take a picture with their favorite sculpture and check out the local businesses that have sponsored the sculptures and event. Fredericktown art students have decorated windows for several merchants and downtown businesses that will be open on Dec. 5. Donation buckets for this event will also be available at local businesses. Participants can end their day with a delightful drive to Sockman Lake Park to enjoy Christmas lights.
WNZR’s Big Blue Crew will also be broadcasting and passing out WNZR goodie bags with COVID-19 resource bookmarks. Stop by and say hello! The Baptist church will once again provide crafts for kids ages three and up.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec. 5, and visit Fredericktown to support families in need. Follow the Christmas Walk on their Facebook page (Fredericktown Annual Christmas Walk and Auction) or on Instagram (@fredericktownchristmaswalk).
Cleo Redd Fisher Museum to hold pickle scavenger hunt with a twist
LOUDONVILLE – An old Victorian Christmas tradition is getting a new twist this year, with the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum in Loudonville announcing an outdoor, community-wide scavenger hunt. In Victorian times, families would hide a pickle— often waxed or dried— in the tree, and on Christmas morning the first child to find the pickle would receive an extra gift.
“With everything going on this year, we felt like everyone could use some excitement— and maybe even some extra gifts,” Kenny Libben, curator of the museum, said. The result is a twelve-day scavenger hunt called “The Twelve Days of Christmas Pickles.”
The idea is simple: Starting on Dec. 1, the museum will hide a glass pickle ornament each day, somewhere in the Mohican area. The general location of the pickle will be announced on Facebook through a public event titled “The 12 Days of Christmas Pickles.” Clues will start off vague; and as the day goes on— if the pickle remains unfound— more specific clues will be posted until it is found. Whoever finds the pickle will keep it and take it to the museum to claim their prize. The next day, it starts all over again.
“There are twelve different prize packages for the winners,” Libben said. “We still have some businesses reaching out to donate prizes, so specifics won’t be announced until the end of the month. But I can say we’ve got some great stuff, and we’re very thankful to all the businesses helping out.” She did mention that prize packages start at approximately $25 in value and go up to $50 or more— including some pickles that will have multiple prizes for the winner.
The pickle hunt isn’t entirely new to those close with the museum.
“Each year the museum hosts a private Christmas party for members and donors, and for a number of years now we’ve hidden pickles around the museum exhibits and decorations for that event,” Libben said. The prizes were smaller and donated by board members, but partygoers— often numbering in the hundreds— still loved the thrill of the hunt. With the ongoing pandemic, the board was forced to cancel this year’s party, but after hearing from dozens of disappointed patrons they decided to take the hunt outside and open it to the entire community. The museum hopes this will give families an excuse to get outside and enjoy some fresh air, hopefully have some fun, and maybe even take home a prize.
According to the museum, the only thing you have to do to play is join the event on Facebook (those unfamiliar with events can go to the museum’s Facebook page and click on 'Events')— being sure to 'follow' in order to receive daily updates. From there, scope out the clues and go find the pickle!
“Hopefully, we get quite a few people joining in, because the more you see searching for the pickle, the more exciting it will be to find it,” Libben concluded.
Questions regarding the event can be directed to the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum at (419) 994-4050 or info@crfmuseum.com.
