Palmerton’s 12th annual Christmas in the Park will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Palmerton Borough Park.

Sponsored by The Holiday Lighting Committee, the event will consist of 154 trees and about 30 craft vendors, said Michele O’Neill, chairperson of the event.

The invocation will be presented by the Palmerton United Veterans Organization Color Guard, followed by remarks from borough Mayor Don Herrmann.

The Towamensing Elementary School Chorus and S.S. Palmer Elementary School Chorus will perform. Food and craft vendors will open.

Santa will arrive at 1 p.m. (children must be in line by 2:30 p.m. to see Santa). There will be goodies bags for all children, as well as chances on prizes.

There will also be wagon rides by Steiner Artisan Farms with their Clydesdale Horses, free face painting for children, and holiday favorites performed by Off The Charts Music School Elves.

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will occur at 4:45 p.m.

Food and toy donations will be taken on the bandstand for local families in need. Donations of unwrapped toys will be accepted for CACPAC Toys For Kids Drive, while nonperishable food items will be collected for CACPAC Food Pantry.

At 11 a.m., there will be a Polar Express Reading at The Little White Church hosted by the Palmerton Historical Society.

The Carbon Model Railroad Society, 529 Ore St., Bowmanstown, will hold an Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and donations are welcome.

O’Neill noted Christmas in the Park is a family-friendly, free event “that is just spectacular to walk through.”

“It’s beautiful to come at night and spend time with the family, check out the rest of Palmerton, our local restaurants, local venues, just enjoying Palmerton as a whole,” O’Neill said. “Our town is very special.”

O’Neill lauded all those who help make the event the popular attraction it’s become.

“We have a wonderful committee that puts up the trees, but it’s the community as a whole that makes this event as special as it is; we couldn’t do this unless the community supports it,” she said. “It takes a village, and our borough comes together for it.”

O’Neill said the scene is certain to get spectators in the holiday spirit.

“Seeing them enjoy it through the eyes of their families, it is easy to go and see,” she said. “It’s just something that I think is very special and unique to our area.”

The rain date for the event is Sunday.