CURWENSVILLE – Although it isn’t yet Thanksgiving, Curwensville is getting ready for Christmas with its annual Home for the Holidays celebration.
This year it starts on Thursday, Nov. 9, continues through Friday, Nov. 10 and ends Saturday, Nov. 11.
Friday features the Knights of Columbus Wine Walk, starting at 5 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Church. The cost is $25 at the door and includes “giveaways, wine and fun”, according to information on the event.
During this outing, you can get an exclusive “sneak peak” of Greene’s Branding Iron on State Street.
Residents have been eagerly watching the restoration of the old building, which once housed a beloved gathering place and restaurant. The Greene family has promised to bring it back to life.
“We hope to be open by the end of November with a new menu and your old favorites from the Branding Iron of the past. Same great place with a new, updated twist!” they said.
There are plenty of family-friendly, free options for fun during this celebration, including the parade at noon on Saturday with Santa Claus’s big arrival.
He will then travel to Ridgeview Eldercare where he will take photos with the children. There will be complimentary hot cocoa and cookies!
City Drugs of Curwensville is having a coloring contest for the kids in kindergarten to fourth grade.
Curwensville Alliance Church will have a display of trains, miniature villages and nativities on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The church will also have activities, crafts and treats.
Hidden Star Country Kitchen & Gift Shop is having a “Rock this Town” contest. If you find one of its hand-painted rocks around town, drop it off there for a treat! It’s also giving away a meat basket.
The Curwensville-Pike Township Historical Society is having an open house at the Korb House on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, it will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s also having a soup sale at Rescue Hose & Ladder on Saturday from 9 a.m. until sold out.
If history is your thing, check out the open house at Irvin Manor on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
If you are looking for unique gifts, check out the GFCW Curwensville Women’s Club Craft Show and Flea Market at the Curwensville Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. In honor of Veteran’s Day, all veterans get a free hot dog and drink.
The grand re-opening of Curwensville Feed Store, which is under new ownership, will take place on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Local boy scouts will be on-hand to cook hotdogs and burgers for patrons. There will be door prizes, giveaways and special sales.
At The Strawberry Tree, you can have lunch with Santa on Friday when he will read “The Polar Express” and pose for photos.
While shopping in the area, you are encouraged to participate in the Home for the Holidays Word Search.
“The holiday elves have hidden a Christmas Word at each location,” it says in their promotional information. All you must do to qualify for a Curwensville Merchant gift certificate is to pick up the form and log each word you find at the various businesses.
You can possibly win by just having one correct answer, but if you complete them all, you double your chances.
Completed forms must be dropped off at Curwensville Florist by noon on Monday, Nov. 13.
Area non-profits are also participating in this annual celebration.
On Saturday morning, area Girl Scouts will be having a food drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hidden Star Country Kitchen. If you drop off food for the Curwensville Food Pantry, you will get a chance to win a prize.
The Curwensville Library will be having a book sale on Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This sale also includes DVDs, puzzles, comics and yearbooks.
St. Timothy’s Rosary & Altar Society will be selling nut rolls and cinnamon buns on Saturday 9 a.m. to noon at the church.
Other businesses with giveaways and/or sales are Bouquets by Jill, Champions Choice Screen Printing & Embroidery, Curwensville Florist, Gates Hardware which will have its traditional giveaway of two $500 shopping sprees, Goodman’s Foodliner, Serenity Bridal & Formals, Stiner Woodworks & Custom Cabinetry’s Showroom and in addition The Stuff Store will have free gifts for veterans.
Also participating are Aletta’s Farm Market, Curwensville Ace Hardware, Lezzer Lumber, McCracken Auto Body, Mid Penn Bank, Curwensville Rescue Hose & Ladder and The Progress.