For the Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — With the decorated and lighted 35-foot tree in the heart of Town Centre, decorated store front windows and illuminated building rooftops, the city’s primary business district evokes the memories and emotions of Christmases past.
“We still have quite a few activities happening between now and the end of the year,” said Ed Mullaney, downtown manager. A holiday sing-along will be held today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Town Centre. Karaoke and live music will be featured and all musicians are welcome. Open to the public, the event is sponsored by city government.
Illuminated Christmas carriage rides will be available today from 5 to 8 p.m., coinciding with photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at the Allegany Museum. New this year, the carriage rides will be available every night through Dec. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. Frosty and Rudolph will also be on hand to greet visitors. Several downtown stores will be open until 8 p.m.
“We are very excited about the newest display in downtown Cumberland,” Mullaney added. Vintage animated displays from Saks Fifth Avenue, New York, are being displayed in the McMullen Building located in the upper block of Baltimore Street.
A special celebratory event to highlight the displays will be held Tuesday at 5 p.m. The public is invited to join the people who brought these special window displays to Cumberland for hot chocolate and cookies and enjoy a carriage ride.
Cumberland’s Main Street program recently held a holiday window display judging contest with winners in several categories. Winners this year include Best Children’s Holiday Window — Hobbies Plus and the Culinaire Café in The Gateway Center; Most Traditional Window — M&M; Bake Shop and The Vietnam Veterans of America; Most Illuminated Window/Building —Queen City Creamery; Best Charlie Brown Christmas Window — Animal Welfare Society; Most Unique Window — McMullen Brothers Building and the Saks Fifth Avenue Displays; and Best Overall — Baltimore Street Collectibles.
Saturday marks the final Breakfast with Santa Claus for the season. The final breakfast will be at Crabby Pig at Canal Place from 9 to 11 a.m.
“We started Breakfast with Santa a couple of years ago and it’s proven to be popular with children, their parents and in some cases, their grandparents,” Mullaney said.
Reservations are required and may be made by calling (301) 724-7472.
Town Centre will be Times Square South again this New Year’s Eve at the city’s annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Music will be furnished by Galla and Dan.
The Ball Drop has become a highlight for downtown and is sponsored by Main Street Maryland and the Downtown Development Commission.
For more information, call (30) 722-5500 or visit online at www.mdmountainside.com.
