West Lafayette brings back Christmas Decorating Challenge
Santa Claus will make his annual appearance at the end of the West Lafayette Christmas parade this Saturday. The parade will begin at 1 p.m.
WEST LAFAYETTE – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in West Lafayette. The holiday season will kick off this weekend in the village with the annual Christmas parade, which will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.
Line-up for the parade will be at noon at the middle school and travel down Russell Avenue, go passed the West Lafayette Branch Library on SR 93 and end at the Baptist Church on CR 16.
“I’ve reached out to the high school band,” said Dave Rogers who has organized the parade for the past eight years. “They have always provided good music for the parade. Coshocton County REACT will also help to block off the streets so we can have the parade. It takes the whole community coming together to make this happen.”
In addition to the parade, the West Lafayette Lions Club will have a pancake breakfast at the West Lafayette United Methodist Church from 7:30 – 10 a.m. and there will be a craft show at the high school from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. All proceeds from the craft show go to help the community.
The West Lafayette Library will also have a Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, a holiday craft, music, and a door prize drawing.
The festivities will continue throughout the Christmas season as businesses and residents take part in the West Lafayette Christmas Decorating Challenge. There is still time to sign up to participate in the competition. Deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 30. Forms can be picked up at the Village Administration Building, 113 E. Railroad St., or entry forms can be found on Facebook.
“I have two small children and they always want to go look at the Christmas lights and see what people do for the holidays,” said Heather Stoffer, village administrator for West Lafayette. “But you always have to drive such a long way to see Christmas lights.”
The village wanted to do a live Christmas tree, but did not have the budget for that this year. However, they are featuring a new display this year entitled, “West Lafayette Uncommon Christmas” which will be located on the empty lots off of Main Street.
“We wanted to figure out what we could do to bring Christmas to the village but still stay within our budget,” said Stoffer. “So we came up with different things that don’t have a cost.”
There are currently snowmen made of tires in the area and there will soon be a Christmas tree made from scrap metal from Jones Metal. There are also pallets from Cabot Lumber in West Lafayette that will be used to make candy cane walls and possibly a Christmas tree.
Anyone who lives or has a business in the West Lafayette village limits are welcome to participate in the contest. First prize for businesses is $50 in cash from the West Lafayette Rotary Club. First prize for residential is a $25 gift card from the Ridgewood General Store.
“We wanted other people in the village to get involved as well,” said Stoffer. “We’re mainly just trying to get people involved and in the Christmas spirit again.”
Judging will take place on Dec. 22. Judges will be representatives from the West Lafayette Christmas Committee, which consists of three council members and Stoffer.
“Exaggeration and creativity is always a plus,” said Stoffer. “We don’t have a specific checklist we are looking for, but I want to see what everyone can do.”
Currently, there are five entries in the contest, but Stoffer is looking for more.
“Mostly, it’s to get people involved and in the Christmas spirit,” said Stoffer. “We have a lot of people with young children and they have to go a long way to see Christmas lights. Let’s see what West Lafayette can do and get in the Christmas spirit.”
Stoffer is hoping that the Uncommon Christmas will also expand each year along with the holiday lighting contest.
“I’m excited to see what we can do next year and see how we can build off of it,” said Stoffer.
For more information about the Christmas Decoration Contest, contact the village administration office at 740-545-7834 or find them in Facebook.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
