Avon Tree Lighting Ceremony Is Saturday

AVON, OH — Avon's annual tree lighting ceremony will be held Saturday. This year, Maya Rak, a 10-year-old girl battling cancer will help lead the event. The ceremony will be dedicated to Maya, the city said.

The tree lighting event will start at 5 p.m. at Avon's gazebo at the corner of Detroit Road and Stoney Ridge Road. Maya and Santa will lead a short parade from the gazebo to the municipal lot behind the Avon Senior Center, 36784 Detroit Road.

The tree lighting ceremony is a collaborative event between the city and the French Creek Foundation. Other groups involved in the ceremony will be giving shout outs to Maya throughout the evening, the city said.

Here's a schedule of Saturday's events:

• Santa's parade through Olde Avon Village: 5 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
• Santa arrives with Maya: 5:15 p.m.
• Tree lighting ceremony: 5:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Live reindeer and ponies for kids: 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Avon School choirs perform: 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Visit with Santa: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Pizza, hot cocoa, cookies, coffee and treat: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Raffle drawing; Gingerbread House Contest winners announced: 6:30 p.m.
• Contestants pick-up gingerbread houses: 7 p.m.