Madison’s downtown turns festive this Friday

MADISON – It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas with the freezing temps this week, and on Friday it will look a lot like Christmas too. One of the most anticipated holiday events will take place this Friday in Madison’s historic downtown.

The official lighting of trees in the 2024 Madison Station Polar Express Christmas on Main Street in downtown Madison will be held Dec. 6 followed by the annual Wassail Festival. Other events for the evening include a glow stick parade for children and the reading of The Polar Express. Of course, Santa will be there too.

“Madison has big plans to celebrate the season this December. The City of Madison, partnering with the Madison Station Historical Preservation Society, announces the 11th annual Polar Express,” event coordinator Debbie Overcash said. More Christmas trees will be exhibited this year, compared to 2023.

Festivities will start at 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. “Prior to Mayor Paul Finley lighting the trees at 6 p.m., there will be plenty of activities for families to enjoy,” Overcash said.

“Enter the event through Snowflake Alley; Madison Visionary Partners has transformed the walkway into a winter wonderland…a great photo opportunity,” Overcash said. “Don’t miss a visit with Santa, who can be found in the oversized Christmas ornament

The official lighting of trees in the 2024 Madison Station Polar Express Christmas on Main Street in downtown Madison will be held Friday evening.

Santa will be on hand for photo opportunities in the city’s huge lighten Christmas ornament in downtown Madison.

on the east end of Main Street. The City of Madison flew Santa in just for this evening.”

Choral students in Madison City Schools will stroll along Main Street and sing carols. Madison City Community Orchestra will perform Christmas carols to spread the holiday spirit.

Rotary Club of Madison will continue their tradition of providing free hot chocolate and cookies. Rotarians invite everyone to come by and enjoy the treats.

For the Children’s Glow Stick Parade, youngsters are invited to gather on the patio at Main Street’s east end at 5:45 p.m. to march down Main Street with Madison Chamber of Commerce. The chamber also will host Letters to Santa so the children can share their wish list with Santa.

A children’s librarian from Madison Public Library will read “The Polar Express.” Then, the countdown for the 2024 Polar Express to light up Main Street will begin.

Wassail Festival

One component – and this one is tasty – of Christmas revelry in downtown Madison will be the fourth annual Wassail Festival.

Retail stores and businesses on Main Street will open their doors to serve samples of wassail. Madison Hospital is presenter of the event. Co-hosts of the Wassail Festival are the Shoppes of Historic Downtown Madison and Madison Chamber of Commerce.

The tasting will start at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, immediately following the lighting of decorations in the Madison Station Polar Express Christmas on Main. Other activities will start holiday fun on Main, Martin and Church Streets.

The Wassail Festival will feature local merchants’ recipes. Individuals can enjoy FREE samples of the warm, spiced holiday drink.

Visitors can vote for the wassail that they consider has the best taste as merchants vie for bragging rights for the most delicious recipe in town. In addition to the wassail tasting, guests can shop for unique holiday gifts at local downtown stores.

The preparation of wassail starts with a base of apple cider. Then, the preparer can add citrus juices, especially orange and pineapple, to add zest to the drink. Those flavors can be combined with various spices, like nutmeg, anise and cinnamon.

In conjunction with the Wassail Festival, several other holiday activities will be occurring on Dec. 6 for everyone to enjoy. Madison Visionary Partners have transformed a walkway into a Winter Wonderland and a photo opportunity.

Santa Claus will greet people in the larger-than-life Christmas ornament on Main Street’s eastern end.

Choral students in Madison City Schools will stroll along Main Street and sing Christmas standards. Madison City Community Orchestra will perform Christmas carols to invoke the holiday spirit.

Rotary Club of Madison will serve hot chocolate and cookies free to everyone. Children can gather on the eastern end of Main Street around 5:45 p.m. to join Madison Chamber of Commerce in the Children’s Glow Stick Parade. A chamber employee will lead Letters to Santa for the youngsters to share their wish lists. A children’s librarian from Madison Public Library will read “The Polar Express.”

Festival organizers encourage residents to “come for the wassail, and stay for the holiday cheer. Let’s make this year’s Wassail Festival the best one yet!”