GREENFIELD — Santa is coming to town tonight to help ring in the holidays during downtown Greenfield’s annual JingleFest celebration.
The event, organized by the Greenfield Business Association, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. It will feature Santa at Wilson’s Department Store, free crafts for kids, a town tree lighting and caroling on Veterans Memorial Mall, as well as discounts at local businesses.
“It’s just a lovely time to start getting into the spirit,” said GBA Coordinator Caitlin von Schmidt.
Visitors can watch Santa arrive at Wilson’s on a fire engine at 5 p.m., and children who visit him on the department store’s second floor between 5 and 6:30 p.m. will receive a free book and candy cane. The Frosted Bakeshop on Main Street will be selling hot chocolate for a quarter, and members of Stoneleigh Burnham School’s Octet and the Franklin County Community Chorus will be caroling on Veterans Mall at 5 and 5:40 p.m., respectively.
Visitors can also catch the town tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. and a free showing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the Garden Cinemas at 6:30 p.m.
Various businesses throughout town will also be offering specials.
“People should come out because they should be shopping local, and this is a great time to do it,” von Schmidt said.
The Franklin County Community Co-Op will also hold a craft fair and free craft workshops for children at its new space at 170 Main St. and people can vote for their favorite holiday window display and get a chance to win a downtown shopping spree.
“We’re really excited about it, and we’re looking forward to seeing a bunch of families downtown,” von Schmidt said.
For a full schedule of events, visit the Greenfield Business Association’s Facebook page.