Massillon’s Community Candlelight Walk is a self-guided stroll through downtown Massillon among luminarias and Christmas lights to visit nine historic churches and six community attractions. Stops include live music, storytelling, free refreshments, and entertainment. Free maps will be available at any venue where walkers begin their routes. The free public event will culminate in a musical program and Massillon’s traditional candlelighting ceremony at St. Mary’s Church.
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Central Presbyterian Church, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and First United Methodist Church will present nearly continuous music. Some churches will intersperse their music with church tours or storytelling. Many will be decorated for Christmas and offer refreshments.
Festival of Music and Candlelighting Ceremony
The evening finale will be held at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, where organ holiday selections performed by Mark Thewes will fill the sanctuary before the 7:45 program, which will include the ceremonial community candlelighting and music by the Washington High School choir and Washingtonians directed by Kelli Riley; the combined St. Mary’s, St. Joseph’s, and St. Barbara's choirs directed by Park Thewes; and the young Sixteenth Street Singers under the direction of Julie Dewald.
Each year, nominations are excepted for the ceremonial community candle lighter, local person or organization representative, honored for exceptional community service this year!
Attractions
Walkers can stop in the Massillon Museum’s Gessner Hall for complimentary cookies, coffee, cocoa, and tea throughout the walk. Live music will entertain as walkers get warm.
Massillon Public Library’s impressive rotunda will host live music and refreshments. Find great photo opportunities in the front of the beautiful building.
Vocalists will entertain in the lobby of the Lions Lincoln Theatre and a Victorian photo opportunity.
Massillon Railroad Club, located in the lower level of the First United Methodist Church, will have O-gauge trains running—many depicting lines that ran through Massillon. Find the entrance at the back of the church on Third Street SE.
Eight hundreds luminaries will line the bricks of historic Fourth Street, leading to the Five Oaks mansion, where Massillon Woman’s Club members will offer refreshments and live music amidst the mansion’s stunning architecture and lush holiday decorations.