From store specials to Santa visits, Painesville is planning back-to-back holiday events in the coming week. Related Articles Local News | Mentor Public Library hosts talk exploring birth of Christmas traditions Local News | Mentor Public Library announces next Paws to Read sessions Local News | Free iPhone class coming to Concord Township Community Center Local News | Mentor Public Library hosts online talk on the National Gem Collection Local News | Mentor Public Library hosts talk on ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ The festivities start with the city’s Holiday Shop and Stroll on Nov. 21, when visitors can head to local businesses for holiday-themed promotions, listen to carolers and watch a movie. Then on Nov. 22, Spirit of the Season will feature a tree lighting, Santa visits and more on Painesville Square. The Holiday Shop and Stroll is officially set to run from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, though at least one business will start offering specials as early as noon. Visitors can check out promotions at many businesses on Painesville Square and up and down Main, State and St. Clair streets. Three businesses on Erie Street and Mentor Avenue will also participate. A list of promotions is available at painesville.com/shopstroll. A total of 30 participating locations were listed as of publication time. Painesville Economic Development Director Susan Crotty said that the events will include the 5 p.m. reveal of Gartman Model Bakery’s gingerbread display at 30 N. State St. and a 6 p.m. holiday-themed performance of HOLA Ohio’s Folkloric Dancers at 58 S. Park Place. A trivia night is set for 8 p.m. at Nemeth’s Lounge, 40 N. State St., and the new LayR Event Venue will offer tours at 113 Main St. during Shop and Stroll, according to the webpage. Many businesses will offer discounts or refreshments. According to Crotty and the event webpage, craft vendors will be on hand at 8 N. State St., while food trucks, showings of “A Christmas Story” and a bonfire will be available in front of the Lake County Job and Family Services building at 177 Main St. Shop and Stroll will also feature Lake Erie College’s miniature horse, Stormy, and carols from Madison Chorale. Crotty said that visitors can take free trolley rides around the downtown and to the participating businesses along Erie Street and Mentor Avenue. A full list of trolley stops is available on the webpage. “We just invite everybody to come down,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to find some gifts for the holiday season or to take advantage of some of the specials, to get some good prices on some of the merchandise that you’re looking for and to enjoy some food and just enjoy the music and the entertainment.” Visitors can come back the next day for Spirit of the Season, which runs at Painesville Square from 5 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 22. Painesville Recreation Supervisor Justin Gollin said that the event will take place rain or shine. Gollin said that the event will feature a performance from Fairport Dance Academy at 5:10 p.m. at the square gazebo, before Santa comes in on a fire truck for the 5:30 tree lighting. Santa and an elf will then provide gift bags for visiting children during the rest of the event. Visitors can also head to 58 S. Park Place to decorate gingerbread cookies or warm up with free hot chocolate and marshmallows while supplies are available, he said. The cookies will be available for the first 400 children. Gollin added that horse and carriage rides will also be offered around the square after Santa arrives. A hand bell choir will perform on the square. The city’s holiday lights will also be on display on the square and Main Street, he said. The lights earned Painesville a spot on the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail for the second consecutive year. Visitors to the Thursday Shop and Stroll can park at public lots on South St. Clair Street and East Washington Street or on the city’s street parking spots, Crotty said. Gollin added that visitors to Friday’s Spirit of the Season can park behind First Church Congregational, 22 Liberty St. The holiday festivities will continue on after the two events. Painesville’s Santa mailbox will be available on the square from Nov. 22 to Dec. 16, and Santa will be on the square at specific times on Dec. 6-8 and 13-15. More information is available at painesville.com/calendar.