By Sue Hughes | For The Times-Post

PENDLETON — After a one-year hiatus, Christmas in Pendleton is back. And it’s bigger and better than ever, said Lori Anson, event coordinator for Pendleton Business Association.
The official event time is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.
Currently there are 80 vendors who will have booths on Pendleton Avenue and State Street.
Anson expects more will sign up before it’s showtime.
“I’m going to have to stop taking applications — I am running out of space, that’s a good problem,” she said.
Booths will include food vendors, crafts, local organizations and some local business.
All of the local businesses will be open and ready to serve customers.
Some will have special pricing and fun activities.
The Stable will offer breakfast, and Pendleton First United Methodist church will have a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.
The day starts off with a Snow Queen contest.
The young person must be a resident of the South Madison Community School Corp. district. They must write an essay on community service that they have performed.
A queen, a princess and a junior princess will be crowned at 9:30 a.m. in Town Hall. The winners will get to participate in the parade and will be invited to walk around town and greet people.
Carriage rides will be offered free of charge at the gazebo in the park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The annual Christmas parade will start at 1 p.m. It will run from East Street, west on State Street and turn south on Main St.
Terry and Sherry Richwine, longtime owners of Jimmie’s Dairy Bar, will be the grand marshals (See related story elsewhere in this section).
Many organizations and businesses will be represented in the parade.
After Santa has passed, a snowball fight will begin in the downtown area.
After the parade Santa will visit Gallery 119. He will be there from 1:30 to 4 p.m. for visits. Parents can take pictures of their children with Santa.
A children’s play area will be located downtown.
There will be live reindeer from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A selfie area, inflatables for the kids, local entertainment and activity booths will be available.
The Colts In Motion trailer will also make an appearance, focusing on team  exhibits, history and memorabilia.
During the day Christmas characters will roam the streets, greeting children. A reindeer, a snowman and an elf, among others, will walk around town. They will also be in the parade.
“This year we are expecting the biggest crowd ever,” said Julie Schnepp, president of Pendleton Business Association. “Businesses in town and the community are very excited. It is a true pleasure for the PBA to throw events like this for our community.”
Outside of the event times, a tree lighting ceremony is set for 6 p.m. at the gazebo in Falls Park.
There will be carolers, and children will be invited to fill out a Christmas wish list and place it on the tree.

Schedule (Saturday, Nov. 13)

7-10 a.m.
Pancake Breakfast at the First United Methodist Church
9 a.m.
Businesses and vendors open
9:30 a.m.
Queen, princess and junior princess will be crowned
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kids Zone play area
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free Carriage rides in the park
1 p.m.
Christmas Parade
1:30 p.m.
Snowball Fight downtown
1:30 to 4 p.m.
Santa at Gallery 119
4 p.m.
Businesses and vendors close
6 p.m.
Lighting of the Christmas tree in the park