Tickets for what is rapidly becoming a Christmastime tradition in this area will be given out this Saturday, November 4 at the Community Arts Center. Approximately 2,000 tickets for the Skip Hunsinger Christmas Children’s Spectacular beginning at 10 a.m. These tickets will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis. They will be given out until the supply of tickets is exhausted. A responsible adult must accompany each child attending the Christmas Spectacular and the children and the adults will all have to have tickets.

The Children’s Christmas Spectacular began in 2007 when my uncle, Harold “Skip” Hunsinger and Frank “Whitey” Missigman proposed that the CAC’s volunteers sponsor an annual event called the “Children’s Christmas Spectacular,” which was a revival of the Christmas parties sponsored by the local AFL-CIO held at the then Capitol Theater from the late 1930s until the early 1960s. These events usually included a movie, candy and a small toy for each child, something that was welcome to children, particularly during the Depression years. Skip and a dedicated committee made up of CAC volunteers did all the legwork to make this event possible and as successful as it has been.

This year’s event will include a holiday-themed movie, as well as musical entertainment presented by the Uptown Music Collective and a dance performance by members of the Williamsport Civic Ballet.

In addition, Christmas stockings filled with candy and other goodies will be given. There will also be a raffle and drawing for various prizes for the youngsters.

And of course no Skip Hunsinger Children’s Christmas Spectacular would be complete without a visit by that overweight and overgrown elf, Santa Claus and his wife. The event will be held on Saturday, November 25 at the Community Arts Center.