Holiday lighting ceremony Friday

Fairfield will become Christmas City when the holiday lights are turned on for the first time this season during a dedication ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Central Park.

The ceremony will begin with caroling by members of the Fairfield High School choir, followed by the announcement of the Gingerbread Children Art Contest.

After the contest results, Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce?s Christmas committee member Josie Hannes will announce the name of the person the 2010 holiday lights are dedicated to, and that honoree will throw the switch to light the park at 6 p.m.

The shining lights cue Santa?s arrival via Eddie Spees? horse-drawn wagon. Santa will visit with children from 6-8 p.m. in his Kandy Kane house in the northeast corner of the park.

Santa?s schedule also has him visiting children in his house from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 3, 10, 13-17 and 20-22.

After dropping off Santa, Spees will be offering horse-drawn wagon rides from 6-8 p.m. The Fairfield Lions Club sponsors the rides.

The Lions also will have a soup, sandwich and dessert fundraiser from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Senior Citizen Center. The organization also will have a live auction to raise funds for Fairfield causes it supports.

The auction, with locally donated items ranging in value from $10 to $165, begins at 6 p.m.