Fun for everyone is in store starting at 3:30 PM on Sunday, Dec. 9 when folks get on board for The Wilmot Express, a town-wide, progressive event.

The Wilmot Express is a joint effort by the Wilmot Community Association (WCA), the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department and the Wilmot Public Library.

The first stop will be the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department’s Fire House at 1 Fire House Lane, just off Route 11 in Wilmot Flat. Activities will include crafts, a spaghetti dinner, caroling, and a tree lighting ceremony.

Children will make crafts from 3:30 to 4:30 PM. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 6 PM. The outdoor tree will be lit at 6:15 PM.

The dinner costs $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger. Anyone who brings a non-perishable food item for the Wilmot Food Pantry will receive a $2 discount on their dinner. All other activities of the day will be free of charge.

Starting on November 25, youngsters may pick up coloring pages at the Wilmot Public Library, WCA, the Wilmot Post Office, or the Wilmot Town Offices. Judging and an awards ceremony for the contest will take place at the spaghetti dinner.

Then, with lights blazing and horns blaring, Santa Claus, riding on a fire engine and escorted by Wilmot Police Chief David White, will travel to the WCA’s Red Barn at 64 Village Road in Wilmot Flat for the second stop on The Wilmot Express. From 6:30 to 7:15 PM the young and the young at heart will enjoy dessert, have their photo snapped with Santa by John Swindell, a professional photographer who lives in Wilmot, and complete a holiday activity such as creating a card to send to a person serving in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, or Navy who is stationed overseas.

At 7:15 PM, with the call, “All aboard!” Santa Claus, riding on the fire engine and followed by his entourage, will travel in a caravan with a police escort to the Wilmot Public Library on North Wilmot Road in Wilmot Center. Once settled in, Santa Claus will read a Christmas story to the group.

“After we’ve listened to a wonderful holiday story, then Santa will dig into his sack of gifts, and every child will receive a literary surprise,” said Rosanna Dude, director of the Wilmot Public Library. “As many people know, in past years the library has sponsored a family holiday party. This year we are changing our tradition a bit so the library can be part of this town-wide event.”

“This collaboration is exciting and a true partnership that combines old and new traditions for Wilmot,” said Patty McGoldrick, executive director of the WCA. “With the shared goal of serving the town of Wilmot, a joint effort was the best possible way for the WCA, the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department, and the Wilmot Public Library to combine resources and create a truly fun event for folks of all ages to enjoy.”

The Wilmot Public Library is open from 3 to 7 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; from 10 AM to 7 PM on Wednesdays; from 3 to 5 PM on Fridays; and from 10 AM to noon on Saturdays.

The WCA office is open from 9 AM to noon on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3 to 5:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 9 AM to noon on the last Saturday of the month.

More information about the Wilmot Express is available from the WCA office at 526-7934, or visit WilmotCommunityAssoc.com.