CANTON — Canton's 36th Annual Holiday of Lights Celebration starts off Nov. 25 this year. Two memorial trees on the village green and the little white lights on the downtown trees and lamp post wreaths will also be lit.

Just three days later, Nov. 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving from noon-2 p.m., even though COVID-19 has curtailed the traditional crowds of children sitting on Santa's lap during tree lighting on the Canton Village Green, instead, Claus will come to wave to children in their neighborhoods from his North Pole tractor.

The Holiday of Lights Committee and the Canton Chamber of Commerce have announced their co-sponsorship of the three-part Holiday Home Decorating Contest to be open to all home owners in both the village and the rural part of the town of Canton. Home owners should fill out a registration form by the Nov. 25 deadline at the Canton Municipal Building for one or more of these decorating categories: outside of house, front yard tree(s), children's yard art.

A panel of contest judges will start viewing the decorations Dec. 15 to later award the prizes of $250 for the house, $200 for the tree, and $100 for the children's yard art, donated by area grandparents to honor one or more of their own.

Those wanting to remember family or friends with a memorial white tag and red to hang from the village green memorial tree should fill out the Holiday of Lights coupon in North Country This Week. Joyce Lilholt coordinates memory tags.

Questions can be addressed to Brad Mintener, Holiday of Lights Publicity Coordinator, bmintene@twcny.rr.com, 315-386-2585, and Tammy Mackin, Canton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, cantonchamberny@gmail.com, 315-386-8255.