Festival of Wreaths returns to Ransomville

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The holiday season is getting underway in northern Niagara, with the annual Ransomville Lighting of the Wreaths leading off the celebrations. It’s set for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29-30, at locations throughout the hamlet, and presented by the Ransomville Business and Professional Association, the Ransomville Free Library and the Town of Porter.

Look for a mix of family events and holiday shopping opportunities. Offerings include: a spaghetti dinner at no cost to visitors from 4-6 p.m. Saturday at the Ransomville Free Methodist Church, 3924 Ransomville Road. Following the dinner there will be concert at 7 p.m. by Lock City Sound. Visitors welcome and free-will donations are accepted; a pancake breakfast will be served from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday at O. Leo Curtis American Legion Post 830, 2589 Youngstown Lockport Road. Visitors are welcome to drop off new, unwrapped gifts for the American Legion-Niagara County Christmas toy drive. For more information, call 716-409-0190; a craft and vendor fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jills Play Yard, 3745 Ransomville Road. Call 716-791-3540 for details.

From noon-2 p.m. Sunday, families are welcome to visit for photos with Santa at the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co. firehall at 2521 Youngstown Lockport Road. More to check out includes visits by Paws in the Park pet rescue; a Penn Dixie exhibit; plus, a magician, clowns and other activities; the Ransomville Baptist Church will hold a basket raffle from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the church, 2583 Youngstown Lockport Road. Other activities include an open house and living nativity presentation from noon-3 p.m. at Ransomville Free Methodist Church, plus hay-wagon shuttles will run from noon-4 p.m. from the church to the firehall and various business locations for holiday shopping.

From noon-3 p.m., children’s crafts and holiday happenings can be found at the Ransomville Free Library, 3733 Ransomville Road. Included is music by the Scully Brothers; cookie decorating at the nearby Care ‘N Share food Pantry; an open house at the Ransomville Historical Room at the library; and activities at nearby businesses, including Ransomville Family Chiropractor, Patti’s Cut Above and Stevenson’s Hardware. Visitors are invited to purchase an advance ticket for the annual wood carving at Stevenson’s.

The Ransomville Business and Professional Association reports visitors to this year’s Lighting of the Wreaths celebration are welcome to pick up their passports at select local businesses.

A prize will be awarded to an entrant who has visited all locations, and attended the pancake breakfast. Anyone may enter, but only one entry per family is allowed. Two prizes will be awarded.

Ransomville’s Lighting of the Wreaths wraps at 4:30 p.m. with closing ceremonies, including the basket raffle at Ransomville Baptist Church.

For more information, visit the Ransomville festival of Wreaths on Facebook or email questions to ranvllefest23@yahoo.com.