Plans are coming together for the Annual Tamaqua Spirit of Christmas Festival, which will be celebrated Dec. 5-8.

The festival will kick off on Dec. 5 with a Mistletoe Reception at La Dolce Casa Restaurant. Musician Logan Polak provide entertainment. Tickets are required to attend and include one complimentary drink. They may be purchased through TamaquaArts.org. No tickets will be sold at the door.

The tree lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at Depot Square Park near the Five Points intersection. Attorney Anthony Odorizzi will serve as master of ceremonies, and Eric Zizelmann, Tamaqua Business Person of the Year, will be the guest speaker. Zion Lutheran Church choir will provide music.

After the Christmas tree is lighted, Little Miss Spirit of Christmas and her court, along with Santa, will arrive via “a special vehicle.” The countdown begins and the entire park will be illuminated. Santa will then meet children in the gazebo.

Organizers say there is a rumor that Mrs. Claus may also be there. Children will be able to put their letters to Santa in the mailbox, talk to Santa and receive a treat. Little Miss Spirit of Christmas contestants will assist.

Breakfast with Santa and The Grinch will be held at 8 a.m. Dec. 7 from the Perla Building, 105 W. Broad St. The event is sponsored by the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission. There is a fee to attend. For more information, call 570-239-6436.

Plenty of activities for children continue throughout Dec. 7. The Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St., has events between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., including cookie decorating, hot cocoa bar, T-shirt printing, a book sale and “Reading with Rudolph” at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

The Tamaqua Historical Society Museum, 118 W. Broad St., will hold an open house from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7 with holiday music, treats and refreshments for visitors. Admission is free.

From 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7, there will be an “Open Air Old Fashioned Christmas Market” at Tink’s Antiques, 28 S. Railroad St. Craft vendors, entertainment and food will be available. Santa will also be at the Christmas Market.

And to complete the day, there will be a Toolshed Jack Christmas party at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Tamaqua Arts Center, 125 Pine St. Tickets are required.

Train rides with Santa provided by Reading & Northern Railroad will be held at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8. Tickets are available by calling the railroad at 610-562-2102 or in person with cash at Tink’s Antiques.

Several art classes will be held at the Tamaqua Arts Center on Dec. 4, 5 and 7. More information is available on the center’s Facebook page or www.tamaquaarts.org.

The Spirit of Christmas Festival Committee is working hard to extend the Christmas spirit throughout December.

On Dec. 12 and 19, there will be Leiby’s horse drawn carriage rides from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to see the lights at Depot Square Park. Rides will load and unload in the area of Tink’s Antiques.

The Committee can keep the cost of attending events to a minimum thanks to support from Bowe & Odorizzi Law Office; Boyle Electro Mechanical; Vince Boyle Team Re/Max; Hollenbach Home Comfort Services; Law Office of Christine Holman; La Dolce Casa Restaurant and the Owl Creek Reservoir Commission.

The Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce is coordinating a Christmas tree Decorating Contest, which will add to the festivities in Tamaqua for the holiday season. Rules are available from the chamber.

More information on all the events is available on the Spirit of Christmas Facebook page or by contacting the Tamaqua Arts Center at 570-668-1192.