le roy winterfest

Le Roy Winterfest is set for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday with pop-up vendors, store specials, a visit from Santa Claus, plenty of children's activities, holiday decorations and oodles more, according to organizers' schedules.

Other activities include:

• Free zero gravity massage chair sessions and posture scanning at Genesee Country Chiropractic
• Tastings, raffle and specials at Mill Street Liquor, and a raffle, coupons and cookies and refreshments at Picture This Photography
• A thrift sale at First Baptist Church, and vendor blender and food for purchase at Le Roy First Presbyterian Church 
• An open house at Le Roy House and Jell-O Gallery, Town Hall trees, where Lynne Belluscio will be discussing the barn quilt trail
• Santa and a craft show at Le Roy Moose Family Center
• A scavenger hunt and free hot chocolate and cookies at Save-a-lot
• Free kids craft and face painting at The Art of Mandy
• Bounce house and kids activity at Le Roy Fire Hall
• Christmas story times at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. at The Hope Center of Le Roy
• Hot chocolate, doughnuts and pictures with your dog at VIP K9
• Buddy the Elf and Jovie and fill out a postcard to Santa at Farmers Creekside
• Face painting, balloon animals, crafts and kids games at Living Waters Church
• Sunshine Nursery School hosting selfies with Santa at BeyonDriven
• Kids crafts and take home cookie decorating kit at Woodward Memorial Library

For more details, go to Le Roy Winterfest. 

Top Photo: Oisin and Leandro Manamon, each 2, have a visit with Santa Claus during Winterfest Saturday in Le Roy; Rebekah Connors assists Paige, 4, and Braeden, 2, with crafts at The Hope Center; other scenes are of visitors and activities during the annual event in the village, including kids participating in an obstacle course at BeyonDriven. A tree lighting is set for 5:30 p.m. Photos by Howard Owens.

Le Roy's Winterfest is carrying on with a tree-lighting even though the event's usual donor won't be providing the tree, said someone who preferred not to be identified.

An issue that has become public chatter on social media will not prevent the annual festivities from taking place, the source said. Winterfest will be "merry and bright" and a positive event for the community this Saturday, the source said, and it's not about the size of the tree, but about people coming together to enjoy the yearly happening together.

Andrew Lathan has usually donated a tree for the lighting, but has apparently notified organizers that he will not be doing so this year, the source confirmed. Le Roy Business Council is instead purchasing a tree, which is set for a public lighting celebration at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Click here for more about Winterfest.

Le Royans celebrated the arrival of the holiday season with the annual lighting by Santa of the Christmas Tree in the Wiss Hotel Park.

Royce Breslawski celebrates his win in the men's division of Le Roy Winterfest 5K this afternoon. Heather Kent, below, was the first woman to cross the finish line.

Part of the tradition of the race is for winners to dress up with holiday flair. There was also an after-party at the Creekside Inn.