Celebrate the start of the holiday season with us!

Back in its new time slot, Hometown Holidays is Spring Hill's annual Christmas festival, held the first Friday in December. For many years, this fun, free event has treated families to pictures with Santa, holiday-themed crafts, treats, activities, and entertainment hosted by local organizations. 

The evening begins with caroling and the lighting of the Mayor's Christmas Tree. Once the tree is lit, Santa and Mrs. Claus are delivered to the event by Johnson County Fire District No. 2 and spend their evening taking free photos with children. Families then can enjoy sipping hot chocolate, nibbling on Christmas cookies and listening to the sounds of carolers provided by the City of Spring Hill and local businesses and organizations. 

Hometown Holidays 2019 is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at the Spring Hill Civic Center, 401 N. Madison St. Planned activities include pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hay rides, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, face painting, balloon artists, free hot chocolate and cookies, Christmas carolers, music and a flashlight candy cane hunt.

Entrance to the event is FREE. We only ask you either donate to the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, which benefits five Spring Hill organizations, or bring a canned food item for the Spring Hill Food Pantry. We will also be accepting canned food donations Nov. 1 through Dec. 13 at City Hall.

Schedule of events

6 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. — Caroling at the Mayor's Christmas Tree in the courtyard of the Civic Center. 

6:10 p.m. — Mayor Steven Ellis will give opening remarks before the tree lighting. 

6:15 p.m. — Watch as Citizen of the Year Brian Verbraken lights the Mayor's Christmas Tree, signaling the start of the season. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also arrive, courtesy of Johnson County Fire District No. 2. 

6:20 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Make your way inside the Civic Center for a whole slew of activities including: 

• Free professional photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus
• Balloon artists
• Face painting
• Cookie decorating
• Free hot chocolate, coffee and cookies
• Letters to Santa
• Cookie walk with the Spring Hill Rotary Club

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Friendship Park, north of Civic Center | Join SHRC for a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt! Bring your own flashlight and see how quickly you can find 10 candy canes! 

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Friendship Park, west of Civic Center | Join the Spring Hill Parks department for free hay rides through Friendship Park. Entrance will be in the west parking lot off Jefferson Street.

Parking

Residents are strongly encouraged to park at the Spring Hill Civic Center, 401 N. Madison St. Parking is available north of the Civic Center on Madison Street and on the west side of the building in the lot off Jefferson Street. No street parking is available.

Road closures

No road closures will take place at the 2019 Hometown Holidays. However, parking spots in front of the courtyard of the Civic Center (east side of the building) will be blocked off for the event.