The Oakboro Christmas festivities begin at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The following Oakboro businesses will be open: Oakboro Furniture and Mattress Center, Oakboro Hardware/Faby’s Clothes, Morton’s Crafts and Antiques, Los Jacubes Restaurant, Eagles Nest Restaurant, Penny’s Restaurant, Wayside Restaurant, Rotation Station and Tin Roof Antiques.

Refreshments will be available in some of these.

From 5-9 p.m., food will be available at local restaurants and from vendors on West Third Street.

The Oakboro Regional Museum will be open from 5-7 p.m. The museum features an exhibit of pottery created by Judith Williams.

Oakboro books, centennial afghans and the three centennial ornaments will be available for purchase in the museum gift shop.

From 5-7 p.m. in the First Baptist Youth Center at 308 N. Main St., there will be an exhibit of children’s Christmas trees decorated by students from Oakboro Quality Child Care Center. Children will be able to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Hot chocolate will be provided.

Train rides will be available in the former Sun Trust Parking Lot from 5 p.m. until parade time at 7 p.m.

The annual tree lighting ceremony will be at 6:15 p.m. in the Oakboro Memorial Park with special music provided by the Children’s Choir of Oakboro First Baptist.

The Oakboro Christmas parade will begin at 7 p.m.

Participants need to go to Oakboro Fire and Rescue on College Street to be placed in line for the parade. All entries must be at the line-up area by 6 p.m. in order to be in the parade.

Floats and other entries will need to be lighted in some way since this is an evening parade. Parade entries can call Oakboro Fire and Rescue with questions.

The Oakboro activities are sponsored by Oakboro Regional Museum, the town of Oakboro, Oakboro Fire and Rescue and the Greater Oakboro Business Association.

Schedule of Activities
Thursday on North Main Street, Oakboro

5-7 p.m.: Oakboro Regional Museum open with museum exhibit of pottery created by Judith Williams of Stony Run Pottery;

5-9 p.m.: Food vendors at North Main and West 3rd streets — Tina’s-Hamburgers & Hot Dogs, What- A-Burger;

5-7 p.m.: Train rides in the former SunTrust parking lot for a $1 donation;

5-7 p.m.: Activities inside First Baptist Youth Center at 308 N. Main St., including a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and the children’s Christmas tree exhibit decorated by students from Oakboro Quality Child Care Center. Hot chocolate will be provided;

6:15 p.m.: Tree lighting ceremony at Oakboro Memorial Park featuring the Children’s Choir of Oakboro First Baptist;

5-7 p.m.: Coffee and cookies at Oakboro Furniture and Mattress and hot chocolate or hot cider at Wayside Restaurant;

7 p.m.: Christmas Parade; entries go (by 6 p.m.) to Oakboro Fire and Rescue on College Street to be placed in line for the parade.