Community
Candlelight Walk
Massillon, Ohio
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.
Walkers can stop in the Massillon Museum’s Gessner Hall for complimentary cookies, coffee, cocoa, and tea throughout the walk. Northwest Singers will perform music as walkers get warm.
Massillon Public Library’s impressive rotunda will host a keyboard and saxophone instrumental duo.
Vocalists will entertain in the lobby of the Lions Lincoln Theatre
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.
The CHARM neighborhood association will light 900 luminaries along the bricks of historic Fourth Street, leading to the Five Oaks mansion, where Massillon Heritage Foundation and Massillon Woman’s Club members will offer refreshments and live music amidst the mansion’s stunning architecture and lush holiday decorations.
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.
Prior to the Community Candlelight Walk (4:00 to 5:00 pm), Grace United Church of Christ will present music by the Tuslaw and Northwest high school show choirs. Massillon Connections Church will present a brief puppet play several times during the walk.
Loren Veigel, Kathy Shultz, Rick and Patty Dalsky, Nancy Jobe, Marsha Knouff, Debbie Busby, and Margy Vogt organize the event.
Since 1984, contributions by an individual or organization to the well-being of the community have been recognized by honoring them as the year’s community candlelighting honoree. In 2001, Loren Veigel introduced the concept of adding a church walk, which has attracted at least 2000 guests each year.
Aqua Ohio, Visit Canton, Massillon Eagles #190, Home Appliance, Farmers National Bank, Paquelet Funeral Home, CHARM, Matt and Ellie Hull, Massillon WestStark Chamber of Commerce, Buehler’s Fresh Foods, and BJ’s.
Event Itinerary
Pre-Walk Concert - 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Grace United Church of Christ • 933 Main Avenue West
Historic Churches - 5:00–7:30 • Music & Architecture
St. John’s United Church of Christ • 101 Tremont Avenue SE
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church • 226 Third Street SE
St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church • 364 First Street SE
First United Methodist Church • 301 Lincoln Way East
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church • 322 Third Street SE
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church • 27 Fourth Street NE
Central Presbyterian Church • 47 Second Street NE
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church • 127 Cherry Road NE
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church • 206 Cherry Road NE
Official Refreshment & Warming Station - 5:00–7:30 - Free Cookies, Cocoa, Coffee & Music
Massillon Museum • 121 Lincoln Way East
Participating Venues - 5:00–7:30 - Holiday Treasures
Massillon Railroad Club • 301 Lincoln Way East—Model Trains!
Massillon Public Library • 208 Lincoln Way East—Carolers
Five Oaks/Massillon Woman’s Club • 210 Fourth Street NE—Holiday Splendor
Historic Fourth Street • Brick Street Lined with Luminarias
Lions Lincoln Theatre • 156 Lincoln Way East
Massillon Connections Church • 308 Erie Street South—Puppet Show
Festival of Music & Candlelighting Ceremony - 7:45–9:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church • 206 Cherry Road NE