LOUDONVILLE — Christmas spirit was in the air in Loudonville on Saturday with residents lining the streets to watch the Christmas parade and tree lighting.
The Loudonville-Perrysville High School band and color guard led the parade, followed by Ashland County Sheriff’s Office cars, fire trucks, a nativity scene on a trailer, farm equipment decorated in lights, Santa and others.
The vehicles paraded down Main Street as Christmas music played over the speakers and the second night of the Mohican Christkindlmarkt began to crowd with attendees.
Shortly after the parade, viewers walked to Central Park to watch the downtown tree light up for the first time.
John Stoops, cofounder of Redbird Resilient, left out a box of ornaments for people to decorate the tree with before the tree lighting.
Loudonville has hosted a tree lighting for over five years, but this was the second year of “Mistletoe on Main,” an event Stoops coordinated.
The event concluded with the tree lighting, but all day Saturday there were festive activities for families, including a Christmas movie at the Ohio Theatre and a scavenger hunt at the library.
“The turnout is amazing,” Stoops said. He said the Christkindlmarkt added another reason for people to attend, and he hopes to collaborate again next year.
It was the second year of Mistletoe on Main, and Stoops said it was even more successful than the first.
The Mohican Area Chamber of Commerce also hosted a live Christmas tree decorating contest and holiday window decorating contest for downtown businesses, adding further festivity to Main Street.
