MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The annual “Christmas in Middletown” event will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. throughout downtown Middletown.

Sponsored by the Middletown Area Merchants Association, this free event lets friends and families celebrate the season together with local businesses, clubs, and organizations, filling the streets of Middletown with cheer, rain or shine.

Start your evening by picking up a Passport to Fun with its schedule of events at one of three locations:

– The Middletown High School cafeteria at the north end of town;
– The MAMA booth at the corner of highways 175 and 29 in the middle of town; or
– The Hospice Thrift Store at the south end of town.

Children, teens, and adults alike enjoy collecting stamps in the Passport to Fun from businesses throughout town for the chance to win prizes, including two firepits donated by Hardester’s Markets.

The passport will also have information about where to go, what to see and do, and when scheduled events are happening.

The Middletown High School cafeteria is the place to be for dance recital performances by the students at Kim’s Dance Factory at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and for craft shopping and for dinner benefitting the Middletown Unified School District drama and choral programs all evening long.

Besides local restaurants that will be open for business, street food will be available throughout town including tri-tip sandwiches served in front of Noble’s by the MUSD Ag Boosters.

The combined Middletown Middle and High School bands will give a performance starting at 5 p.m. on the steps of the Library in conjunction with a “Celebrate a Life” service conducted by Hospice Services of Lake County (rain cancels the band performance).

Santa Claus arrives at 5:30 p.m. at the Middletown Square Park on a fire truck. Afterward, he meets children from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Mrs. Claus gives each a stuffed animal, courtesy of Hospice Services of Lake County.

Inside the Middletown Community Room nearby, everyone can warm up with a free hot chocolate and kids can stay busy with a free craft table, donated and run by the Middletown Seventh-day Adventist School with support from Clearlake Grocery Outlet.

Free pony rides will be offered by Helen Owen of Owen Ranch at the Middletown Car Wash. The Community Methodist Church welcomes guests with music, cookies and cocoa. Plus, at the top of the hour, from 4 to 8 p.m., visitors can ring the 122-year-old bell in the oldest church in Middletown, built in 1893.

Nonprofit organizations set up booths with goodies and crafts on the streets throughout town, to raise funds for their good works.

The town looks festive with decorated merchant storefronts and business-sponsored Christmas trees that are decorated by area schoolchildren. The trees are later donated to local families in need through our local charity, Spirit of the Season. Thanks to Star Gardens Nursery for running the tree program.

Individual businesses compete for “best decorated” storefront, and they pass out their own refreshments to passersby.

It’s a perfect small-town event. Find out more at the Middletown Area Merchants Association website at www.middletownareamerchants.com .