Concerns about COVID-19 have led to the cancellation of most of the Hometown Christmas celebration activities that were scheduled on Dec. 4th in downtown Junction City.
Phyllis Fitzgerald, who helps coordinate the annual event, said the planning committee made the decision Friday afternoon based on the rising number of COVID cases. "And our citizens are the most important to us so the Hometown Christmas, some of the events we're cancelling them. Fitzgerald cited for example, the food trucks, ice sculpting, and she noted that there would not be any Christmas caroling, story time at the library or an appearance by Santa Claus.
Fitzgerald did make it clear that a window decorating contest for the downtown businesses will continue. "So that will still happen and folk can go and see how the businesses have decorated."
Fitzgerald said by Monday all the lights will be up on 7th Street where the celebration was planned. "So people can still enjoy looking at it, but we're just not going to have all those things that we were going to be doing for the Hometown Christmas."
Fitzgerald said the cancellation decision was made for the safety of the community including the people who live here and those who travel through Junction City.