Villages are ready for holiday celebrations

PENN YAN, BRANCHPORT—The holiday season is here, and area villages are gearing up for their annual holiday celebrations in the coming weeks.
The village of Penn Yan will hold the 29th annual StarShine event Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 9 p.m. Traffic will be closed for two blocks downtown beginning at 4 p.m., as the event is returning to Main Street this year. Regular traffic will resume at 9 p.m.
In addition to featuring more than 20 non-profit vendors, there will be several entertainment options offered throughout the night. Habitat for Humanity will be holding Pancake Day from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be open houses at the Underwood Museum, Oliver House and Sampson Theatre beginning at 5 p.m. Area musical groups will also begin their performances at 5 p.m.
Horse drawn wagon rides throughout the village will begin at 5:30 p.m., while the official lighting of the Lion’s Club village Christmas tree takes place at 6 p.m. outside the village hall. Santa’s official arrival to the village is scheduled for 7 p.m. The event will culminate with the naming of the new Miss Penn Yan at 8 p.m. For a related story on the contestants, click here.
Branchport will hold its annual “Christmas in Branchport” celebration this Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature tractor-pulled trolley rides through the village, leaving from the Modeste Bedient Memorial Library. The library will also feature Elf Christmas Story Time and serve cookies and milk.
In addition to holding a holiday sale, Branchport Hardware will have the community fire pit located outside for residents to enjoy. Cub Scout Pack 44 will also be holding a Christmas tree sale at the location until 3 p.m.
Lunch will be held at the Branchport United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal includes chili, cornbread and cookies for sale from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Food and produce will also be sold at the Branchport Farmer’s Market throughout the event.
Mulled wine and grape juice will be featured at Hunt Country Vineyards during the day, while holiday treats and raffle tickets will be for sale at Crooked Lake Mercantile. The Finger Lakes Museum will be showing DVDs with popcorn at the Branchport Fire Department, while also displaying renderings for their Discovery Campus in Branchport.