Lighted parade, Santa, wagon rides, treats at Norwood Holiday Festival Dec. 11

NORWOOD – Now in its third year, the Norwood Holiday Festival, Saturday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m., sponsored by the Norwood Business Alliance, promises to be the best one yet, according to organizer and owner of the Hometown Café, Sue Fregoe.

“The lighted parade is going to be spectacular,” she said, noting the number of lit floats has nearly doubled from last year’s eight to 14. The parade will also hold a few surprises Fregoe doesn’t want to divulge. It will begin at 5 p.m.

Santa will be arriving in style, pulled down Main Street in a horse drawn wagon.

Then everyone is invited to the village park for candy, pictures with Santa, horse drawn wagon rides, cookies, cocoa and raffles, all of which are free.

Carolers and the Norwood Brass Firemen will entertain the crowds while everyone stays warm by the big bon fire.

The memory tree will be lit at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s all paid for by the local businesses—kind of like our way of giving back to the people who support us all year long,” Fregoe said. “We’re trying to take commercialism out of Christmas and make it much simpler. Full of memories.”

Last year, she estimates about 500 people turned out for the event. People sipped on 45 gallons of cocoa and gobbled up some 1,400 cookies—1,200 baked by Fregoe.

In conjunction with the event, the community is also holding a holiday house decorating contest. Judging will be done Thursday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.

Holiday raffle tickets can be picked up at local businesses.