By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorPlans are being finalized for the 25th annual Warrenton Downtown Association’s Hometown Christmas celebration. The event takes place Dec. 6-7 throughout Warrenton and kicks off Friday with a tree lighting ceremony at 5:45 p.m. at Friedens UCC, followed by the annual Christmas parade. Santa will be dropped off at Brenda Sue’s Vintage Clothing and Costume Rental where he will be available for photographs with kids.Children can also have their photographs taken with Santa’s reindeer at city hall. They also can write down their Christmas wishes to give to Santa while enjoying homemade baked goods and drinking hot chocolate. There will be a live Nativity scene at Friedens UCC Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and carolers stationed on various street corners singing yuletide carols and the Warrenton High School band will be performing throughout the evening. Friedens also will host its 19th annual Cookie Walk Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.What better way to view the festive decorations than from a horsedrawn carriage, available free of charge at Dr. James Brent’s office. Children can sample holiday treats at various Main Street businesses and the Belle Starr Theatre will feature holiday performances all evening. Visitors to the 1866 Schowengerdt House are invited to decorate rooms of the Victorian home Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, between 5 and 9 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, Dec. 8, between 1 and 4 p.m. Admission is $5; children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Docents will be available in each room to tell guests a bit of the home’s history and share stories of the Schowengerdt family, the only family to occupy the house on Warrenton’s Main Street.The theme of this year’s holiday exhibit at the historical society museum is “Christmas Memories.” Favorite holiday memories of both county and city officials, along with Warrenton Downtown Association members and Warren County Historical Society members, will be featured. The Tree of Christmas Memories will give museum visitors a chance to share their personal holiday memory while also helping decorate the large tree in the center of the exhibit hall. The museum will again be open from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 8. The holiday decorations will remain up throughout December, and people are invited to visit the museum anytime during its regular hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays.Santa and Mr. Claus will visit at the Schowengerdt house on Saturday, Dec. 7. Children are invited to have a photo taken with them from 1-4 p.m. The cost will be $1 per pose. Photo customers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Agape Food Pantry in Warrenton.And what would Christmas be without the annual chili cook-off at Brewskis, sponsored by the Elks club, with proceeds going to the Elks scholarship fund. Brewskis also will host its traditional Christmas village in the upstairs of the restaurant. Main Street will be closed from 5-7 p.m. Friday for the event so families can feel safe to stroll up and down the street enjoying the festivities. Entries for the parade are still be accepted. Contact Jason Emmerson at revjay@gmail.com.Hometown Christmas Celebrates 25 Years