The Christmas on Central festive event will be on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and focuses on Small Business Saturday local merchants and area vendors.

The indoor and outdoor pop-up shopping event is sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union. Other sponsors include VanDette Law PLLC, Central Station Restaurant, Putnam Record Agency and JF Grant Consulting Services.

Local vendors and activities will be inside Northern Chautauqua Catholic School (NCCS), Elks Club, Stearns Building, former P&G grocery store, P*dubs, Onix Barbershop, Leghicie Lashes and other locations along with other holiday elements outside on Central Avenue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The day will provide a great opportunity to shop for holiday gifts from over 75 vendors and small businesses while enjoying live music at City Hall with Footsteps (11 a.m.), Slim & Red (1 p.m.) and DJ Joe Gould (3 p.m.).

Floats during the city of Dunkirk parade last year are pictured. Below is the event at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.

Other activities include complimentary horse drawn carriage rides with two wagons this year provided by Laff ‘N Lyon Ranch from noon to 4 p.m., visits with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and elves from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall, ice sculpture carving demonstrations by Jamestown Ice & Storage in Stearns Court starting at 11 a.m., children’s holiday craft-making (noon to 4 p.m. at NCCS) and cookie frost (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the Stearns Building), complimentary hot cocoa and food available for purchase from the Central Station Restaurant.

A new unwrapped toy drive conducted by Chautauqua County Rural Ministry is also being held to support the local families in need.

Drop-off sites will be Dunkirk City Hall and NCCS during the month of December.

There will also be a shopping map available at the event promoting participating vendors and some of the other holiday deals and savings taking place at other local businesses throughout the city. The map will also be on-line at www.cityofdunkirk.com.

Like last year, holiday dancers from the McKenna Academy of Dance (5 p.m.) and Danza! Performing Arts Academy (5:15 p.m.) will perform a holiday routine in front of city hall.

Floats during the city of Dunkirk parade last year are pictured. Below is the event at Northern Chautauqua Catholic School.

The event will conclude with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on the steps of Dunkirk City Hall with Mayor Wdowiasz, staff, community members and friends.

Participants are reminded to dress warm during the inside and outside strolling holiday event.

Corporate events sponsors are available at the following levels: $1,000 – Overall Sponsor, $500 – Tree Lighting Sponsor, $250 – Horse-Drawn Carriage Sponsor and $100 – Santa Set Sponsor.

Vendor opportunities are still available for $35 (Dunkirk residents) and $45 (non-Dunkirk resident). If you are interested in being a sponsor or a craft, gift, or kids’ activity vendor, please visit the city website at www.cityofdunkirk.com under Residents/Festivals or their Facebook page at Dunkirk Festivals & Special Events for registration form.

Local businesses are encouraged to sign up for the Gingerbread City of Dunkirk Contest where co-workers/business owners work together to build a gingerbread house replica of their company to display in our hometown of Dunkirk, NY.

The Gingerbread City of Dunkirk display, sponsored by Putnam Record Agency, will be available for public viewing in the Stearns Building during the Christmas on Central and the Dunkirk Holiday Parade events.

The free registration deadline is Monday. Completed fully-assembled houses are due by Monday, November 25 at Stearns Building (left of City Hall) by 5 p.m. More information is available on the city’s website.

 The second Annual Dunkirk Holiday Parade will take place on Friday evening, December 6 at 6:30 p.m. on Central Avenue.

The parade is sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield along with the support from Dunkirk Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, VanDette Law PLLC, North County Landscaping, Putnam Record Agency, Jamestown Community College – North County Extension Center and JF Grant Consulting Services.

This year’s theme is “Gingerbread Avenue and Candy Cane Lane,” which encourages participating entries to decorate their vehicles, floats, and people with some type of gingerbread and candy cane design. Floats are encouraged to play their favorite Christmas music.

Parade line up will begin at 5 p.m. on Third Street, between Robin Street and Central Avenue. The event will feature pre-parade entertainment with a DJ Dance Party with Rudolph from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The parade will begin promptly at 6:30 pm, traveling south toward City Hall and end at Central Avenue and Fifth Street. Andy Bohn and E.J. Hayes will be the parade announcers.

Trophies will be awarded to the following float judging categories: Best Theme, Most Creative, Best Youth Involvement, Best Business, Best School, Best Civic / Nonprofit, Best Emergency Vehicle and People’s Choice.

Interested groups and companies that would like to participate are asked to complete a parade application available at www.cityofdunkirk.com under the Residents/Festivals tabs or pick up form in the Development Office in the Stearns Building. The no-cost registration is due November 27.

Spectators are reminded to dress warm to enjoy the holiday event. Central Station Restaurant will be open until 7:30 p.m. with food and refreshments for purchase.

Corporate parade sponsors are available at the following levels: $1,000 – Overall Sponsor, $500 – Gingerbread Level, $250 – Candy Cane Level and $100 – Sugar Plum Level. Interested parties can also sponsor a trophy for $25.

The city events staff are also looking for photos from any past Dunkirk winter holiday events that can be shared with them.

For more information, contact Scott Mekus, event specialist, at City of Dunkirk at (716) 366-9848 or smekus@cityofdunkirk.com.