OBSERVER Photo by Joseph Pinter Members of the Lake Shore band and chorus lead the caroling.

ANGOLA — Christmas carolers arrived with warm clothes and hot chocolates for the 19th annual Christmas in the Village in Angola Friday night, signaling the unofficial beginning of holiday festivities.

Village trustees and Friends of Angola members helped light the Christmas tree beside the public library before the attendees moved towards the gazebo in Centennial Park for some caroling.

While the younger ones were busy making snowmen and launching snowballs at one another, Eric Blodgett directed the Lake Shore High band and chorus in a rendition of “Silent Night.”

Halfway through the first song, snowflakes appropriately started slowly drifting down from the sky. And once the firetrucks blared their sirens, the younger kids put down the snow and made sure not to miss Santa, the Grinch or the elves on top of the trucks as they made their way down the road.

The yearly event, paid for by the village’s annual summer Main Street Cruise, aims to return Angola to its past glory as a commercial and recreational hub.

“Some of us grew up here and remember when it was a bustling place and you could get anything you wanted in the village of Angola,” said Lee Widmer-Wick, a retired teacher and co-chairwoman of the event. “In our hearts we know what this place could be and we work very diligently to help it slowly get back to where a person could go into the village and buy anything like we used to when we were kids.”

Widmer-Wick laments the damage big-box stores and online shopping have done to villages that prospered in the days of tiny storefronts and widow sales.

While that wasn’t the reason for starting the event 19 years ago, the weekend has evolved to help the local stores and businesses out while so many people are walking down Main Street.

“We have auctions and activities,” said Debbie Wilson, also co-chairwoman. “Some of the businesses do ornament making, cookie baking or decorating. We also have a free movie in the New Angola Theater afterward. The Pierogi House even has fresh pierogies made throughout the day.”

Village officials in recent years have been coming up with different ways to increase citizen interest in the area. Every July, Main Street is blocked off for vintage cars and food vendors. Wilson added there may be a summer festival and “Bike Along Main Street” ride to honor the old Emblem Bicycle Factory, which can still be seen from Main.

“We’re off the beaten path,” Wilson said. “Everything on Route 5 was built up for shopping and restaurants. So we’re trying to get people and businesses to come back by doing different activities throughout the year. This is our big one.”

In addition to the music for the event, Lake Shore Central art students designed logos and posters for companies in the village. The support from the school is tremendous, Widmer-Wick added.

After the fire trucks began their voyage back and the band and chorus finished the last Christmas song, attendees made their way next door to the First Congregational United Church of Christ for free refreshments.

The event continues today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to crafts and other activities, the day includes a free, hot breakfast for children, fire truck and horse and wagon rides, a bounce house in the John T. Waugh Elementary School gymnasium, face painting, air brush tattoos, balloons and a chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus (from 9:30 a.m. to noon only).