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Volunteers Needed for Chautauqua Wawasee Old Fashioned Christmas 2024

Old Fashioned Christmas Seeking Volunteers

Chautauqua’s annual Old Fashioned Christmas will return bigger than ever on November 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

This extravagant event features Santa, 50-foot tree lighting, musical groups, caroling, live reindeer, a horse-drawn wagon ride, a family photo booth, six live characters such as Frosty, Grinch, Gingerbread Man, all done with the goal of keeping Christ in Christmas with a reading from Luke at the historic chapel, live nativity…and much more! Last
year, more than 1000 people attended this free community event! Read more about it HERE.

Sixty volunteers and performers are needed to make this event the best of its kind in all of northern Indiana.

Due to its growth in 2024, Chautauqua is looking for volunteers who want to join in the fun of putting on this community program. This year’s event starts at 5:30 with Christmas music prior to the tree lighting at 6:00 and ends at 8:00. Help is needed for decorating trees, staffing booths, welcoming guests, handing out free gifts, directing cars for parking and more.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, please contact Kip Schumm at 574-518-0678.

2021 Old Fashioned Christmas

Our 2021 Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration was a HUGE success!

Thank you to all who volunteered, donated, and attended!  Because of YOU, this evening was magical!

Please enjoy this slideshow and we hope to see each and every one of you next year.

 

Make sure to visit us on Facebook to stay up to date on all of our events!

 

Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration

For those looking for a unique fun-filled Christmas family activity, Chautauqua-Wawasee, along with the Syracuse Parks Department and Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, plan the 2nd annual Old Fashioned Christmas at Oakwood Resort for November 28, from 6:00 to 8:00. The celebration is open to the public, free of charge, no registration is required.  The event will be held outdoors on the grounds of Oakwood Resort, with activities starting at 6:00 around the tree near the Oakwood Inn.  Wawasee High School choir and bands are slated to be on hand.  At 6:15 the countdown to lighting 7000 lights on Oakwood’s magnificent 70-foot tree begins. After the lighting, Oakwood’s Christmas magic begins with activities sure to get grandma, grandpa, moms, dads, and children of all ages in the Christmas spirit like olden days. Starting at the Oakwood Inn, stroll up the lighted path to see Santa and Mrs. Claus to hear Christmas wishes while taking precautions to keep Santa and children safe from covid-19. Take pictures with the kids! Listen to an elf read the Night Before Christmas. Stop along the path to listen to the old fashion barbershop quartet sing carols. Warm by a yuletide log and sip some hot chocolate while munching on a cookie. Watch out for the Grinch!  Other characters will be roaming the grounds and available for pictures too. Follow the path up past the Live Nativity to the historic Oakwood chapel to hear the Bible’s Christmas story read; social distancing is set to keep everyone safe. And you’ll want to relax and enjoy a horse drawn sleigh ride around the park.  Stop by the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce’s booth to pick up a child’s craft to take home. These are just some of the many fun activities at the Old Fashioned Christmas celebration. Hope for a bit of snow, and dress warmly, and wear a scarf and face mask to protect yourself and others. Stop in the Oakwood Coffee and Creamery or The Pier and Back Porch restaurant as both will be offering specials to guests of the Old Fashioned Christmas celebration. The Syracuse Chamber of Commerce suggests that you come out early to shop small business Saturday in Syracuse from 10 am to 6 pm! A prize patrol will be out and about from 11 am to 1 pm checking in to see who is shopping! You could be a winner if we catch you shopping in Syracuse! Special thanks to our prize sponsor Mohawk Pier & Lift! Stay in touch by visiting our Facebook Page for information and updates.

When: November 27, 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Where: Oakwood Resort Inn (outdoor event…dress for the weather)
Syracuse, Indiana
Who: Free to the Public. No registration needed.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChautauquaWawasee
Website: www.CHQW.org
Email questions to-   debbie@CHQW.org