Mill Creek MetroParks schedules winter celebration

YOUNGSTOWN — Mill Creek MetroParks will hold a winter celebration Dec. 5 through Jan. 3 at the Davis Education & Visitor Center in Fellows Riverside Gardens.

The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event — Winter Celebration 2009 - Home for the Holidays – includes a display of holiday decorations and seasonal plants, as well as “Grandma’s House.” Visitors can look inside Grandma’s house to see what’s cooking and what’s under the tree. The house is meant to evoke a feeling of a simpler time.

Children can play a life-size version of Candyland, a Hasbro game, using giant gingerbread men as playing pieces. Other activities in Candyland include a visit to Gramma Nut’s House, a lolly ring toss at Princess Lolly’s, and a craft activity at Mr. Pop’s Candy Shop.

Area elementary and high school students created the murals used as a backdrop in the Candyland game.

There will also be an eight-foot poinsettia tree and more than 40 holiday trees created in partnership with local community organizations.

For more information, call (330) 740-7116.