Seasons Greetings

The winter season means more than just snowball fights and cold weather to the community members in Bowling Green, to them it’s a time to gather and celebrate the spirit of the season. Each year community partners strive to bring the holiday season to the community by hosting events that the whole community can enjoy together.                                                                                               

This year civic community partners are hosting events to create the feeling of a winter wonderland within the community.

Old Home Holiday Tour and Living Christmas Cards Dec. 7-20, 2013

“We try to invoke the spirit of giving by providing a community venue,” said Kelli Kling, the marketing coordinator for the Wood County Historical Center and Museum.

“The History Museum is a place to come together and do something beautiful for the community,” Kling said.

Community members are offered a chance to decorate existing exhibits to give them an authentic holiday feel. The exhibits are brought to life by volunteers who add to the authenticity by dressing in era appropriate costumes.

Museum goers can see what the winter season was like for past generations through these live exhibits.

“We cover a broad range of quaint themes for the community to participate in,” Kling said. “This is a great way to engage people in history and celebrate the holiday season.”

Along with the History Museum, Downtown BG and the Wood County Public Library work together to provide a place of gathering for families and friends through the annual Community Tree Lighting and Holiday Concert.

 “We want to provide a place of gathering to meet new and old friends to share the spirit of the season before people were so busy with planning around the holidays,” said Mary Boone, the public relations coordinator for the Wood County Public Library. 

Community Tree Lighting and Holiday Concert November, 22^nd at 7pm

The community gathers around the pine tree on the Library lawn and cheers for the decorated tree to be lit for the annual Community Tree Lighting immediately followed by the concert.  Both of these events, along with many others are part of Downtown BG’s “Holly-Days”.

Holiday Parade November, 23rd at 10am

 “Bowling Green’s Annual Community Holiday Parade is a long standing community tradition” said Earlene Kilpatrick, the Executive Director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, “Our goal is to present a parade that is an enjoyable holiday event for the community in addition to providing quality family time. The theme this year is Santa’s Toy Box which was chosen to allow for creativity and a number of festive decorated floats.”

 Kilpatrick went on to say, “The true joy is seeing parade attendees of all ages smiling and enjoying themselves. Our organization and I have a deep appreciation for the entities that work together for this event,” Kilpatrick said. Participating organizations include: the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Bowling Green, Downtown BG, BGSU, WBGU TV, and all of the registered units representing non-profits, schools and local businesses.

“This collaboration and cooperation that is a part of living and working in Bowling Green,” Kilpatrick said.

 Parade Unit Registration Forms are available at www.bgchamber.net.

Call the North Pole and Storytime with Santa December, 7th

Visit the Wood County District Public Library and families can call the North Pole and speak directly to Santa and Mrs. Claus. Families can also participate in as Storytime with Santa is scheduled for 10:30am on December 7^th. This annual event allows families to join Santa for stories and songs.

Maria Simon, Head of Youth Services at the Library says of the events, “We encourage families to bring their cameras.” There are also photo opportunities with painted Christmas Scene cutouts.

Holiday Nature Crafts December, 7th

On the same day at Wintergarden Nature Preserve, children can “make a variety of nature crafts to decorate your house for the holiday season or to give as gifts,” said Cinda Stutzman, natural resources specialist with Bowling Green Parks and Recreation.

 Three one-and-a-half hour time slots are available to make a variety of crafts and Smore’s at the fireplace.

 A Breakfast with Santa at the Wood County Committee on Aging (Senior Center) is on December 14^th for ages five and under.

Registration for both the crafts and breakfast begins on November 12^th with the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department.

For more information about these and additional community events visit www.visitbgohio.org.

Tori Simmons, Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau Intern