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LEWISTOWN-- Through collaborative efforts, Downtown Lewistown will see yet another decked-out winter wonderland in early December with many exciting festive events on tap to kick off the winter season.
Small businesses compete in window decorating contest
Nothing says "most wonderful time of the year" like a friendly Christmas competition, and that is exactly what the community will witness this winter season.
The inaugural window decorating contest has officially begun and will continue until the Ice Festival.
"The goal of this event is to give our local businesses an opportunity to brighten their storefronts for the holidays and help spread Christmas cheer throughout downtown Lewistown," explained Deck the Downtown member Caitlyn Specht. "It’s all about creating a warm, festive atmosphere that draws the community together -- celebrating local pride, supporting small businesses and filling our town with the magic of the season!"
While walking down the streets of downtown Lewistown, community members can already see the beginning stages of festive windows.
The majority of the coordination between artists and businesses was done by Chris Davis, Keith Davis, Christina Kensinger and Rebecca Conner Miller, but those four will also be joined by Todd Cubbison, Ava Harris, Jenny Landis, Natalie Fultz and Mollie Himes to deck the downtown windows.
The artists have worked side-by-side with participating businesses to brainstorm and complete the businesses' dream artwork.
"The artists were asked by members of Deck the Downtown to get involved with the contest. They have graciously donated many many hours to make this possible and we are so grateful for each and every one of them," Specht shared. "Their artwork has been phenomenal, despite difficult weather conditions and their own time restraints due to personal obligations."
Voting will take place both online and in person. Community members can cast their votes on the Deck the Downtown Facebook page, where photos of each decorated window will be posted for viewing and voting.
For those attending the Festival of Ice in Downtown Lewistown, votes can also be submitted in person at the Deck the Downtown stand. This gives festival-goers a chance to see the festive artwork up close while enjoying the holiday activities and visiting Santa’s Workshop.
Voting will end on Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. The winner will be announced on Dec. 6.
"We hope the community walks away from this event with a renewed sense of pride in our town and the people who make it so special," explained Specht. "Our goal is to remind everyone how magical it can be when we come together -- neighbors, businesses, and families -- to celebrate the season, support one another, and keep our community spirit shining bright all year long."
Participating businesses include:
One-Stop Communications;
The Paisley Bride;
Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau & Chamber of Commerce;
Downtown OIP & Grille;
Mifflin County Housing Authority;
Geisinger School of Nursing;
Matthew R. Kauffman Pools LLC;
Kauffman Chiropractic;
The Crooked Shelf Bookshop, LLC;
D & E Toys and Collectables;
East End Coffee Co.;
Central PA HVAC;
MCS Bank;
Enlighten Psychiatric Services;
Community Services Group;
Lemon & Lime Craft Co.;
Home Blessed Home Care;
Radiation Business Solutions;
Skills of Central PA, Inc.
Deck the downtown prepares for Christmas parade
For several years, the Kiwanis Club orchestrated the treasured Christmas parade. However, in recent years, amid lagging participation, Deck the Downtown decided to take the reins and "sprinkle a little extra holiday magic" to bring a fresh burst of excitement and creativity.
This year, the parade will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, with the parade stepping off at 6 p.m.
"The goal of this event is to bring the magic of Christmas to life in Lewistown and officially kick off the holiday season," explained Deck the Downtown member Caitlyn Specht. "We want to fill our downtown with lights, laughter, and community spirit – creating a joyful celebration that brings families, friends, and neighbors together to share in the wonder of the season."
Community members can look forward to a night filled with holiday magic and Christmas cheer; the streets of downtown Lewistown will "come alive" with twinkling lights, festive floats and joyful music.
The Christmas Parade will follow the traditional route through downtown Lewistown and is open to anyone and everyone who wants to help spread some Christmas cheer. From dazzling floats and decked-out cars to walking groups, local businesses, schools and emergency services -- all are invited to join the fun.
"This familiar route lets everyone enjoy the sights and sounds of the season right in the heart of downtown, keeping the holiday magic where it’s always belonged," explained Specht.
This event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Deck the Downtown Committee as well as the continued support from the community, and Houser Event Rentals who "graciously" sponsored this year’s parade and helped light up downtown Lewistown.
This is the second year Deck the Downtown Committee has been working to transform downtown Lewistown into a "true winter wonderland." The committee expressed interest in the Lewistown Christmas Parade continuing to grow each year, bringing families, friends, and neighbors together to celebrate the magic of the holiday season and create joyful memories downtown for generations to come.
Deck the Downtown encourages all parade participants to light up their entries and bring their most creative, colorful, and merry ideas to life -- making this year’s parade "a truly dazzling celebration of the season."
Interested participants can email LewistownChristmasParade@gmail.com to register. Important updates and announcements will be available on Facebook under LewistownChristmasParade.
Festival of Ice celebrates 28 years
Downtown Lewistown has been the host of the Ice Festival for nearly three decades and this December the beloved staple in the community will return on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 4 and 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.
“Each year, the Festival of Ice brings our community together to celebrate the joy and spirit of the holiday season,” said Jenny Landis, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. “We’re especially excited about this year’s Christmas Candyland theme and all the sweet surprises we have planned. It’s a wonderful way to experience the magic of the holidays right here in downtown Lewistown.”
This year’s theme will "transform the downtown streets into a sugary wonderland filled with whimsical ice sculptures, colorful decorations, and a themed scavenger hunt for all ages," according to the Visitors Bureau.
Similar to past festivals, West Market and Monument Square sidewalks will be lined with dozens of ice sculptures of various sizes.
"The Candyland theme brought new ideas like a gumball machine, a lot of gingerbread shapes, candy canes, chocolate coins and more," explained Buffie Boyer of the Visitors Bureau.
In addition to the fan festival favorites, this year, the Visitors Bureau and Kickin' Kater are teaming up to bring a S'mores Bar to the event-buy a s'more for $1 and all that money will be donated to Mother Hubbard's Cupboard in Lewistown.
Other new activities include:
Following the Crazy Parade, there will be an official lighting of the community Christmas tree in Monument Square. Led by emcee Rhonda Kelley, the ceremony will feature Ashlie Crosson, the 2025 National Teacher of the Year, as she lights the tree and Sacred Heart School's choir leads in a rendition of "O Christmas Tree."
Enjoy the sounds of the season inside the beautiful St. Mark's Episcopal Church, now home to this year's live music performances. Due to renovations at the Historic Courthouse, musical entertainment has been moved to the church this year. The Lewistown Community Band will perform two shows on Thursday evening, and JP Jazz Band will kick off Friday night followed by a Christmas sing-along with the Unusual Suspects. Live music can also be found on the steps of the Historic Courthouse on Friday night with The Boyz followed by the Logan Guard's horn section.
Step into Santa's Village for a magical meet-and-greet with Santa himself--and his live reindeer. Families can snap photos, drop off wish lists, and experience a little North Pole wonder right here in downtown Lewistown. Children may also shop for their family inside Santa's Workshop; all located in the Juniata Valley Bank parking lot.
Enter a world of sugary adventure with Mifflin County Library's life-size Candyland game. Kids and adults alike can play their way through a colorful, candy-filled wonderland inspired by the classic board game at Square One Clubhouse.
For more details, visit jrvvisitors.com or follow the Festival of Ice Facebook page.