Activities for Home for the Holidays in downtown Upper Sandusky begin tonight with the annual wreath auction, and a holiday-packed weekend is ahead. Sponsored by the Upper Sandusky Area Chamber of Commerce, Home for the Holidays’ main event is the Christmas parade starting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with the annual lighting of the tree on the Wyandot County Courthouse lawn to follow.

Pat Althouse places the star atop the Christmas tree at Wyandot Memorial Hospital on Monday morning. Althouse and fellow Wyandot Memorial Hospital Guild members Judy Swartz (left), Naomi Beard and Ruth Ann Frey (center) put up and decorated the new 7 1/2-foot, 600-light tree in an area north of the lobby.

A member of the Upper Sandusky FFA will represent her school and district Saturday at the state job interviewing career development event. Hannah Ziegler, an Upper Sandusky High School sophomore, placed first and will head to the state contest this weekend for the job interviewing CDE.

The 19th annual Upper’s Winter Fantasy of Lights hosted its second Fantasy Walk on Monday night with an official lighting of displays at Harrison Smith Park. Fifteen board members joined more than 700 volunteers to offer the light extravaganza today through Dec. 30, board member Charlene Beeler said.

The season of shopping has begun at many locally owned businesses after the annual Small Business Saturday, a day to support and celebrate small businesses. Locally owned shops in downtown Upper Sandusky participated in the event again this year, and sales and specials continue from 5-7 p.m. Thursday during the monthly Shop Local, Shop Late.

Heavenly Scents Candles by Cathy owner Cathy McKee (center), of Nevada, shares a wide variety of scented candles during the annual Upper Sandusky High School Music Boosters’ craft show Saturday morning.

The bells started ringing over the red kettles as The Salvation Army began its Christmas fund drive this past weekend. Mike McKee, service unit manager of The Salvation Army of Wyandot County, has been busy organizing the drive, which carries its roots back into the late 1800s.

Area residents sing praises during the annual Thanksgiving community worship service sponsored by the Upper Sandusky Ministerial Association on Wednesday evening at Emanuel United Church of Christ, also known locally as the Mudd Church, in rural Upper Sandusky.

Customers traveling to the Upper Sandusky Wendy’s location will notice the business has a slick new look. The remodeling of the Wenco Ashland franchise located on East Wyandot Avenue in the corporation’s image activation design was completed last wee, giving the restaurant a modern look and featuring a signature red blade inside and out.

Members of the Mohawk Junior High School band play seasonal selections in a performance during the annual Mohawk craft show Saturday afternoon. Vendors set up throughout the building to offer handcrafted goods and Christmas gifts, and the Mohawk FFA offered free gift wrapping.