Chillicothe — Santa arrived to turn on the lights of the city’s Christmas tree and to hold court in his house, on the first night of downtown Chillicothe’s Holiday Open House – as “Shine On Chillicothe” made Yoctangee Park glow.

Increasing drizzle didn’t dampen the energy when Santa Claus arrived at the center of a crowd at Water and Paint streets to light the giant artificial tree after 6pm on November 21st, 2025.

The live tree was dying and had to be removed, so a conical metal framework about 35 feet tall in front of the Rotary bell tower will take its place until a new live tree is big enough in future years…then the artificial tree will be used down in the park.

Though it is already lit, “Shine On Chillicothe” will have an official ribbon cutting at noon on Tuesday, November 25th.

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