Havelock decks halls for holiday events

It's official. Santa Claus is coming to town.

The jolly old elf is scheduled to appear at Havelock's tree lighting ceremony scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at Havelock City Park.

The free event kicks off a lengthy schedule of holiday events in the city.

Santa will arrive on Engine 3 of the Havelock Fire and Rescue Department for the tree lighting, said Dave Smith, Havelock recreation director.

Ruthanne Riffle and Madge Beaver will flip a special honorary light switch to illuminate the cypress blue spruce in the park during the event.

Area school choirs and members of the Bay Bush Church will sing Christmas carols as part of the entertainment. Members of Havelock's appearance commission will be serving cookies and apple cider.

Next week, the city's annual Make Havelock Shine holiday home lighting competition will be held. Residents wishing to participate should have their lights on from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Dec. 11.

No one needs to formally enter the contest. Members of the appearance commission will drive through neighborhoods judging displays.

Top prize is the Joyce Blackburn Award, named after the late Joyce Blackburn, whose home at the corner of Stratford Road and Berkshire Drive was perennially adorned for the holiday season.

"Joyce had her whole house inside and out decorated for Christmas," said Diane Miller, city spokeswoman. "She had a different theme for every room in her house."

Other prizes include Carolina Christmas theme, children's theme, religious theme and the Christmas spirit theme.

Havelock has scheduled its annual Christmas Parade for 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13. The parade will make its way up East Main Street from Brown Boulevard to Cunningham Boulevard.

"We're expecting somewhere between 85 and 100 entries before it's all said and done," Smith said.

Santa Claus will make another local appearance in the parade riding in his own sleigh.

Children participating in the parade will be staged in the parking lot of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church and will be picked up at Havelock Elementary School.

A post parade reception will be held at Havelock City Hall.

The parade grand marshal will be named during the Havelock Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Havelock Tourist and Event Center. The event, open to the public, costs $25 per person and includes dinner and musical entertainment.

Holiday festivities continue with the living Nativity from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at Havelock City Park. A number of churches combine efforts to put on the all-volunteer event.