Check out Ransomville's 'Lighting of the Wreaths' weekend

Numerous holiday happenings both days

Coinciding with the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, officials of the Ransomville business community are throwing out the welcome mat for River Region residents to check out the hamlet Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27.

Organizer Ruth Ann Buzzard welcomes all to experience the Ransomville “Lighting of the Wreaths” weekend, which opens at 7 p.m. Saturday with a performance of the Lock City Sound, sponsored by the Ransomville Business Association, at the Ransomville Baptist Church, 2582 Ransomville Road.

The festival continues Sunday, Nov. 27, with a host of activities, opening with drop-offs for the wreath contest at 9 a.m. in the O. Leo Curtiss American Legion Post 830 hall, 2589 Ransomville Road. Visitors are invited to the wreath judging from 1-3 p.m., and bring an unwrapped toy for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots collection site all day at the post.

Results for the wreath contest are expected to be announced at 4:30 p.m. at the Ransomville Baptist Church, along with a basket raffle and a drawing for a bear carving.

Check out the craft fair, vendors and bake sale that will take place from 1-4 p.m. at the Ransomville Free Methodist Church, 3924 Ransomville Road. Horse-drawn carriages by Hartland Carriage Rides will be available all afternoon.

Other events include open houses at Ransomville businesses, including Patty’s Cut Above and Ransomville Family Chiropractic, from 1-3 p.m., with a host of holiday-themed activities for visitors to enjoy. Included are cookie decorating at the Care-n-Share Food Pantry; photo taking with Santa; magic acts by Patrick Holman; clowns and face painting for the kids; crafts; and displays by the New York Power Authority and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit. All can be found at the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co. firehall, 2525 Youngstown Lockport Road.

Other activities include a musician and basket raffle at the Ransomville Baptist Church; and visits with the balloon man, face painting and crafts at the Ransomville Free Library, 3733 Ransomville Road. Also, musical entertainment by Tune it Up; plus a performance by Jack, James and Liam Scully on harp, cello and violin.

The raffle for a bear woodcarving will take place later in the afternoon at Stevenson’s Hardware.

The Ransomville Festival Parade 2022 leads off from the Ransomville Free Library and continues to the Hardison Funeral Home, 3648 Ransomville Road. Buzzard said Ransomville Road will be closed throughout the parade, for which a number of participants are expected. Included are the New York State Police lead vehicle; members of O Leo Curtiss American Legion Post 830; Bob Hall with the U.S. flag; the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Co. fire truck; Farmers Feed America; Sunflowers of Sanborn; the Orloff Consulting LLC “Polar Express” float; the Step in Time singers; members of the Ransomville Garden Club; plus young marchers with holiday bells and flags.

Also Boy Scout members, including Cambria Troop 8 and Lockport Troop 3007; a picture walk featuring The Gingerbread Man Story; appearances by Inspired Americans with U.S. flags and music; Ki-Po Motors of Ransomville; Rob and Sean from RK Motorsports; the Ransomville Speedway pace car; TC Special entertainment; 4 U Paw and Pawl Patrol characters; Ransomville Family Chiropractic; the NCSO Mounted Police Unit; and topped off with a special appearance by Santa Claus.

The parade concludes with renditions of “Silent Night” and “American the Beautiful” at the Hardison Funeral Home. Other closing events include the naming of winning entry of the Ransomville wreath contest; basket raffles, the bear carving draw, and a performance of the Wilson Chorale, under the direction of Claudia Andres.

All events are free and open to the public.