‘A Christmas Open House’ set for this weekend in Salem

Staff report

SALEM

“A Christmas Open House” is the theme of Salem’s annual holiday celebration, which will feature several special events Friday and Saturday.

The tree-lighting ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, 713 E. State St.

There will be a performance by the Salem High School “Encore” group.

There also will be refreshments provided by Real Life Church, Faith Chapel Fellowship and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream.

The events are centered in the downtown area.

The “Welcome Santa to Salem Christmas Parade” starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The parade will go down F.E. Cope Drive from the high school, south on North Lincoln Avenue to East State Street, then will turn west onto East State Street until it turns north on North Ellsworth Avenue where it will end.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, children can write letters to Santa at The Salem Fun Factory roller skating rink, 520 E. Pershing St.

Melissia Hartman, second vice president of the Salem Retail & Business Association, said that there will be people to help children decide what they want to ask for.

Photos of Santa will be offered at The Salem Community Theatre, 490 E. State St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday. The cost has not been set.

The Salem Federation of Women’s Clubs will have its fifth annual Christmas Tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Ruth Smucker House, 271 S. Broadway Ave. The cost is $10.

The Salem Memorial Building Association will host its 20th annual holiday bazaar from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the memorial building, 785 E. State St.

Finally, Phantom Auto Works, 130 S. Broadway Ave., is sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive as part of Friday’s open house and tree- lighting event. Vehicles from the Stadium GM Superstore, Stratton Chevrolet, Donnell Ford and Salem Chrysler Jeep Dodge will be parked in front of Phantom to receive the toys.

Members of the Marine Corps and Don Cockcroft, former placekicker for the Cleveland Browns, will be on hand to help with the drive, which will continue through Dec. 23.

For further Information, contact Wayne Hays at Phantom Auto or call 330-337-8879.