By Danielle Rush
Santa Claus is coming to town Saturday.
The jolly old elf will arrive by train on the west side of the courthouse square at about 5 p.m., ushering in an old-fashioned Christmas celebration.
The event includes a ceremony to light a Christmas tree, built around the courthouse flagpole by Kokomo firefighters, with 3,150 lights.
John Wiles, executive director of the Kokomo Downtown Association, said local business owners Dick and Margi Moore approached him about the event, and arranged train transportation for Santa.
Volunteer elves are busy this week preparing the former L Shoppe, 108 N. Main St., for Santa to use as a temporary base to talk to children, accept their wish lists and pose for pictures until 9 p.m.
Wiles said the visits with Santa are free and parents may take as many pictures as they want.
Wiles said holiday vendors will also be available in the Main Street location, with kettle corn, gourmet hot chocolate, candy, art work, flowers, crafts and other items.
There also will be an old-fashioned Christmas tree lot outside, selling live trees and wreaths, and musical performances by students from Acacia Academy, Grace United Methodist Church and the Kokomo Children’s Choir.
The tree-lighting ceremony will be at 8 p.m.
Wiles said it took some work to arrange for the train. Brad Ortman from Kokomo Grain, local owners of the Winamac Southern Railroad, coordinated the effort with cooperation from USRAIL, owners of the engine, and CERA Railroad, part owners of the rail line.
“You’re not going to be able to see something like that around here,” because there aren’t as many rail lines left in Indiana, Wiles said. “This is unique.”
Many downtown businesses will have extended hours Saturday as well, he said, to be open for the event. The downtown association supplied the lights and is paying for the electricity to power them, he said, and volunteers also have given decorations.
Wiles said the city and county both are on board and cooperating with the effort.
“This just adds not only to the event this Saturday, but the overall effect downtown. This is a good example of a lot of cooperation with a lot of different people. That makes you feel good about living and working here in Kokomo.”
• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at 765-454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.
