Lexington Plans 2-Day Christmas Festival

The Town of Lexington will kick off the holiday season this year with its first-ever Snowball Festival. 

The two-day event will take place on Dec. 1 and 2. It includes a 5K run, a Snow Ball formal, a cell phone walking tour of downtown Lexington, a Christmas parade, and a concert and Christmas tree lighting at the new Lexington Square.

The lineup of events is different from previous years, said Jennifer Dowden, events and media coordinator for the town. In the past, the town held the Christmas tree lighting on a Thursday night near Virginia Hylton Park and the parade on a Sunday afternoon. 

This year, the tree lighting is moving to the new Lexington Square, and all the events will be on a Saturday and Sunday.

The name for the festival came from a former Lexington tradition in the 60s and 70s: the Snow Ball, said Mayor Randy Halfacre. The Snow Ball was a formal dance held every year in January at the Lexington Armory.

"It was kind of the event in this community," Halfacre said. "We want to try to bring back that era." 

This year's Snow Ball will benefit the Chris Myers Children's Place, a children's home in Lexington. The ball starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Lexington Municipal Complex Conference Center. Tickets are $30. 

Earlier that day, the town will hold a 5K race to benefit PattyPacks, a nonprofit that assists families of children born with congenital heart disease.

The Christmas parade starts at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2, followed by a concert at Lexington Square featuring Tara Scheyer & The Mud Puppy Band. The Christmas tree lighting and lighting on Main Street will conclude the night. 

For a complete schedule, see the Snowball Festival page on the town's website.