'Miracle on Main Street' Celebration in Ephrata Saturday
File photo Santa will be coming for breakfast Saturday at the kickoff event for ‘Miracle on Main Street’ in Ephrata. Last year some kids didn’t know what to make of that big guy in the red suit.
EPHRATA — Christmas season will be greeted with a parade and fireworks, and kids have the chance to have breakfast with Santa in Ephrata Saturday. Events in the annual “Miracle on Main Street” town celebration last all day.
The day begins with a community pancake breakfast, starring the jolly old elf from the North Pole. Organizer Rita Witte said city officials originally wanted people to register in advance but changed their minds; people can pay at the door. Breakfast is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Ephrata Recreation Center, 112 Basin St. SW. Admission is $3 per person. And Santa will be there for pictures.
The town Christmas celebration has been around for a few years, and “we’re doing things a little different” in 2017, Witte said. The afternoon party at the rec center is being replaced with other events. “We’ve got a full day of events planned.”
A scavenger hunt is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Ephrata. Participants can pick up a list of clues at the Pita Pit, 26 Basin St. NW. Participants then track the clues around town and take a picture, pick up a business card – something to show they solved the puzzle.
The Ephrata Public Library will host story time from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
People can play bingo – Christmas bingo at that – from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Pita Pit.
The annual Jingle Bell Fun Run begins at 3 p.m. at 261 Basin St. SW (the old American West bank location). Registration is from 2 to 2:50 p.m. in the parking lot. Race day registration is $25, or $20 for people who don’t want a T-shirt. The 3-mile course is down Basin Street to the Lee Theater, Frey Road to Fourth Avenue, and back down Basin Street.
Basin Street will be closed from 2:45 p.m. to about 5:45 p.m., until after the annual Christmas parade, according to a press release from Ephrata city officials. A section of Patrick Park will be closed all day to allow for preparation of the fireworks show, the press release said.
The “Lighted Holiday Parade” begins at 5 p.m., starting at the Ephrata High School parking lot. Lineup begins at 4 p.m.
Parade participants are asked to avoid throwing candy from vehicles, and have somebody walk along the curb and hand out candy instead, if they want to hand out candy.
The fireworks follow the parade, about 5:30 p.m. at Patrick Park.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.