Downtown tree lighting set for Friday

TIFFIN – The holiday tree lighting experience is planned for 5:15 p.m. Friday in front of the Seneca County Justice Center. Hosted by Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Destination Seneca County, the evening will start with holiday music from The Local 419 Community Big Band, an appearance from Santa and the lighting of the community tree. Attendees can guess how many lights are on the community tree for a chance to win a themed prize pack. This year also features the return of The CommuniTree Project for its third year. A chamber initiative, the project seeks to bring the community together for the holiday season and to beautify the tree for the holidays. More than 450 ornaments will be hung on the tree that were decorated by fifth-grade students from Tiffin City, Calvert Catholic, Seneca East, Hopewell-Loudon, New Riegel, Old Fort, Bridges Preparatory Academy as well as chamber member businesses. People with an ornament hanging on the tree are invited to attend the lighting ceremony to find their ornament and be recognized. Chamber member Penn Station East Coast Subs will be providing free cookies and hot chocolate for attendees, and South Washington Street will be blocked off to allow for a safer viewing experience. The conclusion of the tree lighting will be the kick off the start of the second annual Kris Kringle Markt in downtown Tiffin, which continues through 9 p.m. Friday as well as 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. During the open-air holiday market that highlights German/Bavarian-inspired Christmas offerings, visitors can enjoy the sounds of live holiday music, the aroma of German food, late-night shopping, children's activities and the ambiance of an old-world German Christmas. In addition, the weekend offers a lineup of holiday-themed events throughout Seneca County. For details, visit DestinationSenecaCounty.org/Calendar.