Many came together for Toronto Christmas event

A SPECIAL NIGHT — Hundreds gathered at the corner of North Fourth and Clark streets in Toronto on Saturday night for Inspire Toronto’s first Christmas Light-Up Experience, an event that included the lighting of a 21-foot Christmas tree, live entertainment, food and other attractions. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — While Jack Frost certainly was nipping at their noses, hundreds turned out Saturday evening for a new Christmas event organized by volunteers with Inspire Toronto with support from many area businesses and others.

Formerly known as the Toronto Coalition for Revitalization, the group’s leaders — Abby LeMasters, Lish Troski and Toni Moreland — set out to offer a family-oriented event that also drew attention to local businesses.

And those goals were realized in many ways, with children lined up to meet Santa Claus and play various games and attendees of all ages gathered for performances of music and sleight of hand and the lighting of a 21-foot Christmas tree near the corner of North Fourth and Clark streets.

The group encouraged local businesses to get involved with the new event, and many accepted the invitation in various ways, including sponsoring aspects of it and opening their doors to its many attendees.

Dave Ott, owner of the Last Resort Riverfront Bar and Grill, set up his sound system on North Fourth Street so everyone could hear Christmas music, while the Eastern Ohio Speed and Agility Academy made its gym available for children’s games overseen by students from Toronto High School.

Phil Livingston, owner of Baby-Boyz BBQ and the adjacent Straka Hall, invited everyone to step into the latter rental hall, decorated for Christmas, and hear live musicians.

Colonial Florists displayed Christmas wreaths for sale on its front sidewalk, while Meraki Made Boutique offered free stocking stuffers as well as special sales and the Rusty Bull Taco Co. sold Mexican fare from its food truck.

Other nonprofit groups took part, with the Toronto High School Boosters Club selling Red Knight sweatshirts and other memorabilia and Hike Toronto selling Swiss roll and other items to benefit the group’s effort to establish a series of recreational trails in the Gem City.

They joined vendors of assorted locally made food and goods under tents set up by Inspire Toronto’s volunteers.

Students in Toronto High School’s production of “Beetlejuice,” to be presented in the spring, performed Christmas carols.

And Focus in Toronto offered truck-drawn sleigh rides through town to view the many local homes decorated for the holidays.

City crews earlier had strung Christmas lights above North Fourth Street and the city’s firefighters added to the ambiance, with a large wreath hanging from their extended ladder truck among the many decorations placed on the vehicle.

Debbie Puskarich of Follansbee, one of many visitors from outside Toronto, said of the event, “I think it’s a great idea and they’ve really outdone themselves this year. With the stores being open its very festive.”

Rich Young of Weirton agreed, saying, “For this being the first year, it’s really nice.”

Susan Mains, also of Follansbee, said, “I think it’s wonderful. I plan to come back to Toronto and check out the restaurants.”

Chris Crews of Toronto was among many with children in tow.

“It’s awesome. It’s really great to have this type of event in the city,” he said.

“The kids have had a great time. We went to see the magic show and they’ve been excited about everything.”

But the Christmas fun in Toronto is not over, as Focus in Toronto will be holding its Christmas Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Karaffa Recreation Center and its Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on North Fourth Street.

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