You say there’s nothing to do in this county? Well, sit right down, kiddos, and let us point out some of the best things happening in Crawford County this month.
Candlelight Christmas
The Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce and downtown businesses
get together every year to promote shopping locally and to join in on the holiday spirit. The Kiwanians always have a little house set up specifically for Santa in Picking 
Park, carolers stroll the streets, holiday concessions are set up, and free carriage rides are offered starting at the lot of the former Schines Theatre (at the corner of Warren Street and South Sandusky Avenue). This year the event will take place from 5 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3.
“This is one of my favorite seasonal events. Most years, it’s a quaint, small town event that harkens back to a different time: everyone is smiling, the businesses open their doors, and it is a festive time. But on those special years, the weather cooperates and a light dusting of snow starts falling. That’s when the evening turns magical. Let’s hope for another one of those this year.” – Krystal
RELATED CONTENT: Candlelight Christmas makes downtown glow | Candlelight Christmas 2014 Photos | Candlelights burning bright show shoppers the way in Bucyrus | Candlelight Christmas 2013 Photos
Bucyrus Public Library book sale
The Friends of the Bucyrus Public Library are sponsoring a book sale just in time for the holiday season. On sale will be gently-used hardbacks and paperbacks from a variety of genres for children, young adult, and adults. All proceeds from the sale benefit a variety of library programming, including the summer reading programs. Friendship memberships and book bags will also be available. The sale runs from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 and Friday, Dec. 4 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Come Home to Galion
It’s time to Come Home to Galion, folks. Galion rolls out the carpet and opens its doors for the annual holiday parade and festivities set to take place from 1 – 5 p.m. on Dec. 5. The parade will step off at 4:30 p.m. from Heise Park and will travel through Uptowne Galion. The holiday festivities don’t stop there, however. Southern Title of Ohio is sponsoring a Frozen Costume Pageant for ages 3 – 10 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Gill House. For more information, check out the event on Facebook. Brownella Cottage will be decked out for a Charles Dickens Christmas for its open house from 1 – 4 p.m. The ceremonial Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at 5:15 p.m.
Handel’s Messiah
Every year the Galion Community Chorus puts on a rendition of G.F. Handel’s Messiah on the first Sunday afternoon in December. This is the 61st year for the local production, having been performed sporadically between the 1890s and 1930s before the tradition took root in 1955 under the direction of Herbert Krichbaum, the new choral director at Galion High School at the time. John Sikora of Ashland now directs the performance, which features a complete orchestra – including a harpsichord – in addition to professional soloists from across the state and beyond. The chorus is comprised of members from numerous counties near Galion.
This year the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the First United Church of Christ (248 Harding Way West, Galion).
Memory Tree Lighting
The annual Memory Tree Lighting will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 in front of the Crestline Village Hall. For the last month, lights that will go on the big evergreen tree have been sold to honor specific individuals. Those names will be read at the lighting ceremony that Thursday. Other events will also be going on during that time. The Memory Tree Lighting is an event that has been put on for Crestline residents the past four years. Funds raised go to the Crestline Community Development Team.
Bucyrus High School Wrestling Invitational
This is one of the biggest wrestling invitationals for Crawford County each year. It brings in schools from all over Ohio. If you like to watch wrestling (the real kind) or you’ve never caught a match before, this is a good time to see what it’s all about. The match can typically last into the afternoon so you’ll have plenty of time to stop by. The invitational starts at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12 at Bucyrus High School.
Colonel Crawford Swim Relays
What’s so great about it? Oh, it’s only one of the premier swimming events in Crawford County and draws in top athletes. It features a variety of relays that you would normally find at a high school swim meet but one of the most anticipated is the underwater relay. In this event, the relay teams must swim the entire length of the pool underwater before making their turn and racing back to the starting blocks to tag up with the next swimmer. The relays start at 10 a.m. on Dec. 19 at Colonel Crawford High School.
School Christmas concerts
Well, it’s December so of course it’s time for the school Christmas concerts. In case you wanted a little extra holiday cheer, here’s all the county school Christmas concerts:
- Buckeye Central: 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 in the middle school gymnasium
- Buckeye Central choir: 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 at St. John’s Lutheran Church
- Bucyrus: 7 p.m. on Dec. 9
- Colonel Crawford: 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the William and Hannah Crawford building
- Crestline: 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 in the cafetorium
- Galion: 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 14
- Wynford: 7 p.m. on Dec. 10