<p>Glimpses of the coming Christmas season have been appearing for the past few weeks.</p>
<p>Coffee shops have transitioned from pumpkin spice to peppermint. Radio stations are playing “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Local shows and shopping centers have decked the halls, despite the calendar still showing mid-November.</p>
<p>But to all the sticklers and purists who bemoan the encroachment, rest easy — with this weekend’s Greenwood Aglow event, the holiday season has officially begun.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>Greenwood Aglow, traditionally held the weekend before Thanksgiving and the first of Johnson County’s community holiday celebrations, will bring the cheer Saturday. Take part in seasonal crafts, ride cozy carriages through the Old Town area and see actual reindeer.</p>
<p>Families can get their photos with Santa, and see a Christmas-themes performance by a Muncie-based theater troupe.</p>
<p>At the Kris Kringle Market, people can browse through artisan goods and handmade gifts at the booths of dozens of local vendors.</p>
<p>The entire event will hopefully be a chance for people to come together and get in the holiday spirit, with most activities costing nothing at all.</p>
<p>“It kicks off the holiday season a little early. This is the first time we can get into the holiday spirit, and it’s become a tradition for families over the years,” said Jane Weisenbach, director of development for the Greenwood Public Library, which organizes the event.</p>
<p>Greenwood’s tradition of a holiday celebration coming before Thanksgiving has its roots in the merchants and business owners of the downtown area, who were looking for an event to start the holiday shopping season.</p>
<p>At the center of the entire event is the appearance of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Families can pose with the couple and have a professional photo taken for $1.</p>
<p>People can also take photos themselves for free, Weisenbach said.</p>
<p>Silly Safari, the Indianapolis-based animal show company, plans to bring a herd of reindeer so people can see the cousins of Blitzen, Donner and Rudolph.</p>
<p>People will be able to listen to the jingle bells in a horse-drawn buggy, with two carriages providing free rides. Crafts and coloring is going to be set up inside the library, as is a new offering, the Festival of Winter Games.</p>
<p>Kiwanis Club of Greenwood will be serving hot chocolate and other goodies throughout the afternoon.</p>
<p>In conjunction with the library activities, Greenwood city officials and organizers of the Greenwood Farmers Market have put together the Kris Kringle Market.</p>
<p>Organizers have made some tweaks to the event, which they hope will increase the enjoyment for everyone taking part.</p>
<p>Unlike in years past, there will not be a tree-lighting ceremony, so there will be no interruptions in the middle of the activities, which should help more people enjoy all of the offerings, Weisenbach said.</p>
<p>More music is planned for this year as well.</p>
<p>The Greater Greenwood Community Band will have some of its smaller groups to perform holiday music throughout the day. Three Handsome Gentlemen, a barbershop singing group, will bring their harmonies to do sing-alongs on carols.</p>
<p>Minnetrista Theatre Preserves, a community theater group based at the Minnetrista complex in Muncie, will provide a live performance throughout the day.</p>
<p>Outside of the $1 fee for Santa photos, everything being offered is free, Weisenbach said. That was important, and made possible by the event’s sponsors: DeBorg Group, Johnson County Community Foundation, Sexton Mechanical and Edward Jones.</p>
<p>“They make it free, which we really want to do. We want to make it a fun family event that’s safe and free of charge, so everyone can take part in it,” Weisenbach said. “This is really a gift to the community.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><strong>Greenwood Aglow</strong></p>
<p>What: The annual holiday celebration for Greenwood</p>
<p>When: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday</p>
<p>Where: Greenwood Public Library, 310 S. Meridian St.</p>
<p>Activities</p>
<p><ul><li>Kris Kringle Market, a gathering of 25 local vendors selling holiday-related items and other goodies.</li><li>Carriage rides</li><li>Crafts</li><li>Live reindeer and animal shows by Silly Safari</li><li>Photos with Santa for $1</li><li>Music by local groups</li><li>A Festival of Winter Games</li><li>Holiday-themed theater performance by Minnetrista Theatre Preserves</li></ul></p>
<p>Information: greenwoodlibrary.us</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
