Holiday songs, parade festivities and downtown lights will spread seasonal cheer in Muncie this weekend.
A celebration combining the Muncie Community School Christmas Sing, the Muncie Community Christmas Sing Parade and the Light Up Downtown tree lighting ceremony will take place Sunday in downtown Muncie. The event will kick off Light Up Downtown, a monthlong series of holiday activities.
It will be the first year for the Sing Parade, an addition to the 76-year-old Christmas Sing event. Immediately after the Sing, participants and their families are invited to walk in the parade along with Frosty the Snowman, the Chipmunks and Santa Claus.
Last year was the first year for the Light Up Downtown series, and the parade was created this year to capitalize on the number of people attending the Sing and continue the festivities to the ceremony.
Cheryl Crowder, event coordinator of Light Up Downtown, said around 4,000 people attended the event last year. The Sing is a major festive event that includes students from all of the local schools.
“With the partnership, we could offer up an extra piece after Community Sing that would make it more spectacular for everyone,” Crowder said. “When Sing is over, everybody that has attended is invited to be part of the parade to light the Christmas tree.”
After the parade, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at Canan Commons and hot chocolate, holiday displays and photo opportunities with Santa will follow.
Crowder said she hopes the combined event will create lasting memories for families in the community.
“Any successful downtown event adds to the quality of life and makes you proud of where you live,” Crowder said. “It is so important for children who live here to have good memories of their downtown. If you have something that touches your heart and a memory that is good for you about the place you live, it makes you more receptive to being active when you are older.”
Light Up Downtown is sponsored by the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, which is a nonprofit organization that promotes a vital and economically stable downtown.
Ball State’s Cardinal Communications worked with Downtown Development to create promotional materials, including fact sheets and a press release, and will assist as event support Sunday.
Kara Gerstenecker, account director for Cardinal Communications, said students should attend because it is a new way to celebrate the holiday season in Muncie.
“This is a great opportunity for students to get together with friends to celebrate the holidays,” Gerstenecker said. “It is also a way for students to attend an event that is located away from campus and the Village.”
All events Sunday are free and open to the public. In the next month, Light Up Downtown will continue with the Luminaria at Minnetrista, the Polar Express at Cardinal Greenway and a craft show Downtown.
