The first “Very Merry Henderson Holiday Fest” is set for Saturday, Dec. 7 following the Christmas parade that begins at 3 p.m.

The event will be held in the Breckenridge Street area from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will include activities for all ages, including horse-drawn carriage rides, a hot cocoa station, a S’mores booth and free photos with the Jolly Old Elf himself.

Trish Burroughs is one of the organizers, and she said it’s a way to bring the community together “to embrace the joy of the season.”

Mayor Melissa Elliott will kick things off at 4 p.m. with the lighting of the greens outside McGregor Hall, Burroughs said on Monday’s The Local Skinny!

With evening temps expected to be dipping into the 30’s by sunset Saturday, folks can enjoy the parade and then come to the Breckenridge area to enjoy the annual Festival of Trees in the McGregor Gallery, as well as a bouncy house, food trucks and music.

“It’s just going to be a great event,” Burroughs said.

The idea grew from suggestions about how to make the Christmas tree lighting more robust, said Gateway CDC Founder and President Heather Joi Kenney, another member of the planning committee.

Tracy Mosley, executive director of Helping All People Excel, said once the mayor got on board, she “called others to the table and it has become a beautiful collaboration of the city and citizens.”

Burroughs said anyone interested in being a volunteer, a vendor or a sponsor can contact her at 252.430.9057 and she will be happy to provide more information.

Visit the event’s website at https://sites.google.com/view/verymerryhenderson/home to learn more.

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