Minerva’s Downtown Wonderland draws hundreds despite cold

Minerva’s historic North Market Street was transformed into a Downtown Wonderland Dec. 6, offering holiday treats, activities and festive entertainment as hundreds of residents lined the streets despite the cold weather.

Before the festivities spread throughout downtown, the Minerva Community Band performed, followed later by the East Canton High School Choir and the Minerva High School Choir. As visitors explored the attractions, they enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, s’mores and other snacks available from various locations. Walker’s Café provided free hot dogs and hot chocolate for kids, adding to the warm holiday spirit.

Throughout the downtown area, families found a wide variety of activities. Children decorated cookies with sponsorship from Kishman’s IGA, watched an ice-carving demonstration by chainsaw artist Erik Freay of Ice Artistry and tried their hand at bowling courtesy of Minerva Bowl. A take-your-own photo booth, face painting, temporary Christmas tattoos, make-and-take crafts from the Minerva Public Library, letter writing to Santa, a scavenger hunt, train rides from Minerva FFA, free books from the Minerva Teachers Association and a Christmas card tree from Minerva Mission all contributed to the busy afternoon. A map of all activities was available the day of the event and on Facebook.

The parade, which stepped off from Minerva Elementary School, traveled up Bonnieview to Line Street, then onto North Market Street, ending at the Minerva Schools bus garage parking lot. A/C Plumbing Heating and Cooling was chosen as the mayor’s choice entry in the parade. Treat trees sponsored by local businesses and organizations lined the parade path. The trees, filled with goodies for children, remained covered until after the parade, and parents were asked to limit their children to one treat per tree.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived with the parade and later greeted children and posed for free photos inside the Roxy Theatre at 114 N. Market St. Real Integrity Real Estate Services agent Brandy Berry donated photography, printing and mailing services for the event.

Each Minerva Elementary student was encouraged to find his ornament on the village Christmas tree or somewhere downtown. Free raffle tickets were distributed to children, and one child won a sled full of toys donated by Real Integrity Real Estate Services plus the opportunity to light the Christmas tree with Santa in Mayor’s Park at Main and West Line streets. The winning ticket was drawn after caroling at the tree, and the winner had to be present.

For more information, contact the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce at 330-868-7979 or nathan.meadows@minervachamber.org.