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Haymarket Holiday Party planned for Dec. 5
Every winter, Haymarket residents slow down just for a few hours to gather together in the middle of town and celebrate the holidays over some warm food, cool lights and a visit from Saint Nick himself.
This year’s event is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, and will run from 4 to 7 p.m.
According to Mayor Pamela Stutz, the town is spending just short of $2,000 for the holiday party that is set to feature food from local restaurants, live music from Haymarket school groups and a lighting of a 20-foot tree at 5 p.m. at the town center.
The Gainesville District Fire Department is scheduled to show up with a truck to help out with the lighting, according to Town Council member and event planner Susan Edwards.
Local businesses donated some funds for the event while a line item in the budget and leftover cash from Haymarket Day will fund the rest of the program.
So far, six restaurants from around town have confirmed their participation in the Taste of Haymarket celebration that is scheduled to be held at the Haymarket Town Center property, and invitations have been extended to several other local eateries too.
“It’s for you to bring your children,” said Stutz. “It is a gathering of families and hopefully people will get to know each other.”
The holiday party is designed to be kid-friendly as children are asked to put bows on the lower third of the Christmas tree and to decorate donation bags that are being sent to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq.
Typical items town officials are asking residents to donate to the troops are toothbrushes, paperback books and other small items that can be used overseas and can fit in a small bag.
There are 12 drop-off points listed on the Town of Haymarket Web site, including the Police Department on the east end of Washington Street.
Stutz said one of the basic goals for the town event is to preserve the “small town atmosphere” of Haymarket.
Though open to the general public, town residents have an added bonus in that a trolley will be picking up people near residential areas starting at 4 p.m.
This will mark the third time the town has used a trolley for an event and plans are already in the works for trolley service to eventually take people inside and outside of town throughout the year.
Edwards said the biggest challenge is organizing all the different groups involved, ranging from nurseries to eateries. Stutz added that she hopes residents will be able to obtain “a feeling of community” from the party.
Living in Haymarket “doesn’t have to be go-to-work, come back and not-get-to-know-your-neighbors,” she said.
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