The Hometown Holiday Festival returns to Granville Friday night, Dec. 2 as the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce invites everyone out to officially start off the Holiday Season in Veterans Park beginning at 6 p.m.

Festivities will run until about 7 p.m. or until each child has received a gift from Santa.

Chamber President Kerri Thomas said the event continues to be such a success and a nice time for everyone.

“We’re really happy this event has been such a tremendous success and we look forward to doing it every year,” Thomas said.

The chamber does not plan to mess with success.

Separating the kids up into age groups seemed to make the event run much more smoothly, Thomas said so that newer wrinkle will remain, however, mostly the event is what families have come to know and love about this holiday kick-off function.

Santa gives the eight reindeer a breather from training for their round-the-world Christmas Eve trek and will arrive at the park via a Granville fire truck. Santa will help with the countdown to the lighting of the town tree before getting down to gift giving.

Every kid will get a chance to meet Santa up on the bandstand again and receive a little something while the adults can enjoy the fire ring, catch a cup of cocoa or have a cookie.

Chamber members made certain to have enough gifts to hand out to all of the little ones who meet the Jolly Old Elf following big turnouts in previous years.

The fire ring in the park will once again be provided by the Boy Scouts.

Marshmallows will be available for roasting over the flames and refreshments will be provided by the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion and the VFW post.

Everything in the park will be happening free of charge, organizers said.