Saturday, Dec. 3 will mark the day for Darlington’s annual Christmas festival and parade this year.
    The day will begin with a breakfast with Santa at Holy Rosary Parish Hall from 8-10 a.m. Children and their parents are welcome to come and enjoy a meal of pancakes with toppings, sausage, applesauce, juice and milk and to bring their cameras and get a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The cost is $5 and children ages 3 and under are free.
    From there, shoppers can visit the stores on Main Street and throughout Darlington to take care of some of their Christmas shopping while listening to holiday music that will fill the air.
    Something new this year is a Community Appreciation Chili Luncheon and Open House put on by the Darlington Fire Department. The event will take place at the Darlington Fire House from 12 noon to 3:00 p.m.
    Driver Opera House will be serving hot cocoa and singing Christmas carols at the Driver Opera House downtown Darlington at 5:00 p.m.
    Then from 5-6 p.m. enjoy Main Street’s living windows followed by the lighted Christmas parade beginning at 6:30 p.m. and traveling up and down Main Street.
    After the parade has finished the Christmas Festival will begin at the Darlington Festival Grounds where Christmas carols will be performed by Meghan Taylor and friends and free chili and hot cocoa will be served compliments of the Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County Auxiliary. Free popcorn will also be available, compliments of Mathys Ace Hardware as well as free s’mores, compliments of WEKZ.
    Bonfires will be lighting the scene throughout the festival grounds until the highly anticipated lighting of the floating Christmas trees in the Pecatonica River.
    Santa will also be available in the tent at the festival grounds where children can visit and tell him just what they want for Christmas this year.
    Then on your way out of town, don’t forget to drive through the campground to look at the Riverside Reflections lights display.
    The Christmas Tree is provided by Dennis Wirth of Wirthmore Trees. Lights on the tree provided by BridgeView Restaurant and Super8 Hotel and the gazebo lights provided by Sue Cashman. Santa’s tent is provided by D-Town Rentals and Santa’s cookies provided by L&M Bakery.