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Family fun with a Christmas theme is in store with the "Hometown Holiday Weekend," beginning Friday in downtown Warsaw.
Sponsored by the downtown merchants, the event will feature extended shopping hours and special sales at many stores, displays of community Christmas trees, a canned food drive, strolling carolers, free horse-drawn carriage rides and visits with Santa.
The Christmas trees are being decorated by various youth and student groups, and will be donated to eligible families after the weekend is over.
Members of the public who attend the event may vote on their favorite trees by bringing canned or nonperishable goods to the participating businesses.
Children who visit Santa from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Town Center Mall may have their pictures taken for free, courtesy of the Morning Optimists, while their parents snack on cider and cookies served by Santa's elves.
Horse-drawn carriage rides will leave from the courthouse square from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; there is no charge to the public for the rides.
Canned goods collected in the tree-decorating contest will be collected and taken to Combined Community Services for distribution to families in need.
The Town Center Mall on Center Street also will be the site of holiday singing on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., and of the announcements of the winners of the drawings and the tree decorating contest Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
The winner of the grand prize drawing will receive a romantic evening for two, including limousine service, a picture at Cox Studio, dinner at Mosaique, tickets at Lake Theater, and a night's stay at the Candlelight Inn VIP suite, including flowers, champagne and chocolates.
