HARRISON — Christmas in Harrison begins this Thursday as hundreds of people come to the village to celebrate the season.

“There’s people who even come back from California. They all come home for Christmas,” Muffett Crowell, one of the volunteer organizers of the annual event, said.

Crowell said this year will mark the 25th anniversary of Christmas in Harrison with the theme “Silver Bells.”

The events begins Thursday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. with a “Soup and a Song” program at the United Parish Congregational Church followed by a Christmas nativity program.

Additionally, the judging for the annual decorated home contest will take place Thursday evening.

“We’ve already seen some decorated in the village,” said Crowell of the homes that are adorned  with this year’s theme. A pair of judges will go to homes that have entered the contest and assess them on criteria such as creativity and use of lighting, Crowell said.

Entry forms are available at the town office and other local businesses. Prizes will be awarded for that contest and a gift raffle at the Saturday night dance at the VFW on Waterford Road.

The dance, which will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight, is sponsored by the Waterford World’s Fair and will feature the Rockin’ Road Runners band.

On Friday, Dec. 3, events begin at 6 p.m. at the town office parking area in the center of the village. Santa arrives at 6:45 p.m. followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree. John Sparrow’s Brass Choir Band will play traditional Christmas carols and be joined by village singers.

On Saturday morning, a pancake breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. at the United Parish Congregational Church. The Christmas parade will form at 8:30 a.m. on Depot Street. Participants should enter Depot Street from the Waterford Road. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m.

A craft fair opens on Saturday at the Grange Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local businesses will also host open houses throughout the day.

Live Christmas trees will be sold at the Caswell House parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The sale is sponsored by the Harrison Lions Club.

Crowell said the annual event draws people from all over, including friends of hers who flew in one year from Louisiana. “They had never seen anything like Christmas in Harrison, and they wanted to come up to see it,” she said.

The event is run entirely by volunteers.

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