Celebrate the Season

Mark Saturday, December 7 in your calendar—the volunteer elves of C3 Caring Community Collaborative (C3) have been preparing a day of holiday fun to celebrate the season. The nonprofit organization committed to bringing our community together invites you to take a break from the holiday rush and join your neighbors at The Square @ Union Centre for the local party of the season.

In cooperation with West Chester Township and MidPointe Library System, C3 is making West Chester merry and bright with a jolly lineup of activities for all ages.

“The C3 team is excited to provide this fun opportunity to our community,” says Lynda O’Connor, C3 president and founder. “It will be a great way to kick off the holiday season.”

Santa’s Senior Shoeboxes

The holiday fun day is designed to muster extra support for C3’s Santa’s Senior Shoebox project, their collection of small gifts packed in clear plastic shoeboxes to be distributed to local senior citizens during the holidays.

Puzzles, magnifying glass, slippers and other small gifts: fill a small shoebox-sized plastic box and bring it with you. The community is invited to drop off their filled boxes throughout the event on December 7 at a Planes Moving & Storage collection truck near MidPointe Library. For every box you donate, you’ll get one raffle ticket; one lucky winner will receive a piece of jewelry from Welling & Co. Jewelers.

There’s no need to wrap your donations; C3 takes care of that.

“C3 works with UC Health West Chester Hospital to organize the boxes,” says C3 volunteer Abbie Cook. “We add student-made cards, wrap and bows and make deliveries to senior centers right here in our community to spread some cheer.”

Santa Trot

The day of holiday fun begins with the first annual Santa Trot, a 1.5-mile fun run—or walk—launching from The Square @ Union Centre. The first 50 registrants get a free Santa suit! Put on your running shoes and Santa beard and work off some of those holiday treats. Kids and pets are invited to get into the action with the Little Elf Run, a shortened race for little ones, and the Reindeer Run, a costumed pet parade complete with judges and prizes.

Cook points out that this is actually the return of an event that took place in West Chester years ago.

“We needed to bring it back—just the visual image of a bunch of Santas running around makes me happy!” she explains.

C3 picked up the idea and took it a few steps further for family fun.

“We're really making an effort to make the day very welcoming for families because that’s what the holidays are all about—the more the merrier!” Cook says.

Register onsite on race day or online in advance: RunSignUp.com/Race/OH/WestChester/SantaTrot

Santa’s Lane

Another new addition to the event schedule is Santa’s Lane, a pop-up holiday shop with 40 artisans. Pick up a cup of hot cocoa and shop local at the booths of handmade goods for sale. From hand-knitted sweaters to homemade soaps and jewelry, there are sure to be unique gifts and stocking stuffers galore. Vendors will be open from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Santa’s Workshop

Head into MidPointe Library West Chester to warm up, make crafts and visit with the main man himself.

“We'll be hosting Santa!” proclaims Cari Hillman, community engagement director for MidPointe Library System. “He will be here live and in the flesh and available for pictures that families can take on their own. Library staff will also be hosting craft stations throughout the youth area,” she adds.

Hillman is grateful that MidPointe gets to be part of the fun day in West Chester.

“This is such an amazing collaboration,” she says of the combined community effort. “We enjoy being a hub in the heart of the community.”

A Very Merry Takeover

The culmination of the day’s events is a familiar concert experience sponsored by West Chester Township—A Very Merry Takeover at The Square @ Union Centre. An extension of the popular summer series, this holiday version moves to an earlier time slot this year, noon-3 p.m.

The Naked Karate Girls, a fan-favorite band, return to the clocktower stage. Choirs from local schools will perform during the pre-show and band breaks. Lunch, treats, adult beverages and kid-friendly hot drinks will be available for purchase at a variety of nearby food and beverage trucks.

“The Township is excited to work with C3 to grow A Very Merry Takeover and support a great cause,” shares Barbara Wilson, director of public information and engagement for West Chester Township. “The Naked Karate Girls will put on a festive holiday show and there will be plenty of fun activities for kids. Every event West Chester helps support or organizes is about building a sense of community and bringing our neighbors together.”

This year is just the beginning of what community leaders hope becomes a tradition for locals.

“We hope to make this an annual event to help us continue the work C3 does right here in support of youth, needs of seniors, veteran issues, mental health, hunger and supporting the West Chester Police Department,” O’ Connor shares.

Register for the Santa Trot, see a suggested list of gifts for Santa's Senior Shoeboxes and join a countdown to December 7, the most wonderful party of the season, online. See you at The Square! C3Ohio.org, MidPointeLibrary.org, WestChesterOH.org