The Thanksgiving turkeys have been eaten; the Black Friday lines have dissipated; and the holiday season is in full swing.

The Christmas spirit will fully take hold of some Cayuga County villages as they officially kick off the holidays, starting tonight.

The villages of Aurora, Moravia and Union Springs will hold their annual yuletide celebrations this weekend. For years, each community has welcomed the season with a tree-lighting, holiday activities and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.

The events will give local families a chance to have some wholesome fun while trying to draw some out-of-towners into the community to spend a few bucks.

Businesses in Moravia will be decorated and offer discounts and drawings Saturday during the village-wide festival. There will also be wagon rides, music and a live nativity scene throughout the afternoon, said Shawn Raymond, who chairs the committee that oversees the event.

But Raymond said one of the main goals of the Christmas in Moravia celebration, which is sponsored by the local chamber of commerce, is to encourage people to do some holiday shopping around town.

Those who wish to shop locally can save some money too, if they use “Moravia dollars.” For $9, a shopper receives $10 in Moravia dollars, which he or she can spend at local retailers. The extra buck is covered by the chamber of commerce, Raymond said.

“It's growing each year,” said Raymond, who noted that this will be the event's eighth year. “People are finding a reason to come into town and spend the day in Moravia.”

Union Springs will also kick off the season on Saturday with a tree-lighting ceremony at St. Michael's Church and a community party at the Frontenac Museum.

There will be refreshments and tours at the museum, and Santa Claus will be brought in via fire truck, according to Frontenac Historical Society President Linda Zach.

“Everyone comes,” Zach said, referring to village residents. “It really is a community effort.”

For those who can't wait until Saturday, Aurora is holding its Christmas celebration this afternoon and evening. Beginning at 3 p.m., actors in period costumes will sing Christmas carols and a children's choir will sing a holiday concert at 6 p.m.

There will also be an organized walkabout for local shoppers, a silent auction and a free community party later in the evening at the Aurora Inn.

Wells College spokesperson - and one of the event organizers - Kelly Tehan said the community moved the celebration back to the weekend a few years ago. But holding the event on Thursday seems to attract more attendees, she said.

“This way,” Tehan said, “people don't have to smash everything into three weekends before Christmas.”

Christopher Caskey

253-5311 ext. 282

christopher.caskey@lee.net

If you go.

What: Christmas in Aurora

When: 3 to 10 tonight

Where: Village of Aurora

Info: Call 364-3260

What: Christmas in Moravia

When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

Where: Village of Moravia

Info: Call 497-1341

What: Community Christmas Party

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6

Where: Frontenac Museum, 178 Cayuga St., Union Springs

Info: Call 889-7273

Schedule of events

Christmas in Aurora

3 p.m. - Christmas caroling

5 p.m. - Christmas crafts at the Aurora Free Library

6 p.m. - Aurora Children's Choir concert at Morgan Opera House

6:30 p.m. - Community tree lighting, Santa Claus arrives at Aurora Free Library

7:30 p.m. - Whirligigs perform in front of Aurora Inn

8 p.m. - Community party begins at Aurora Inn

Christmas in Moravia

10 a.m. - Tractor-drawn wagon rides begin on Main Street, student art show at high school cafeteria

11 a.m. - Live nativity scene

12:15 p.m. - Children visit Santa at high school

2 p.m. - Free sketches at the school

Union Springs Community Children's Christmas Party

7 p.m. - Tree lighting ceremony in front of St. Michael's Church

8 p.m. - Santa and refreshments at Frontenac Museum