When you drive by the City Green at the triangle of Royalton Road, Ridge Road, and Bennett Road, you will see that crews from the City parks and recreation have been working hard to prepare the Green for the 20th Holiday Lighting. The City Green and gazebo will be dressed in its holiday best for all residents and travelers to enjoy.
The whole City of North Royalton and friends are invited to come and see the 2021 Holiday Parade and Lighting on Sunday, November 28, at the City Green at 4:15 p.m. Come on out and enjoy the music, the hot chocolate and donuts at Judy’s Chocolate House, the parade, the arrival of Santa, and for the first time as Mayor of North Royalton, Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz will flip the switch at the Gazebo and set the City Green aglow.
The parade steps off from St. Albert the Great’s Royalwood exit at 4:45 p.m. Mayor Antoskiewicz will lead the way, and the NRHS Band will add music. Join all the elves from the NR Lions Club and escort jolly Santa Claus as he arrives atop a NRFD fire truck. Santa will enter his Little Red House waiting for the mayor to officially flip the switch and light up the City Green with twinkling holiday lights to the delight of all the kids and kids at heart. Come and see Santa (masks are not required), take a picture, then drop a letter into his special mailbox just to be sure he remembers your wishes. (See info on page 4)
Carol Lester from the North Royalton Lions notes, “There are five members of the NR Lions that will be serving hot cocoa and donuts at no cost to those who attend (and while supplies last).” That is not all the Lions are doing; for many years, the Lions have helped not only North Royalton but Santa himself. Once again Santa is placing a large, 5-foot-tall red lighted mailbox by the entrance of the Fire Station to make sure those letters get directly to him. “Last year, Santa received 168 letters from this mailbox. Santa was thrilled!” Santa has made NR Lions honorary elves. There are nine Lions on the official mailbox committee with another 45 waiting and ready to step up and take the elf pledge. So, after you talk to Santa, drop a letter in the mailbox. The letters must be in the mailbox by Friday, December 10. . No postage necessary. Parents, please make sure that your child’s address is clearly written on the letter. It is very sad when there’s a letter but nowhere for Santa to send a reply.
The Lighting of the City Green has been enjoyed by hundreds of North Royaltonites for 19 years, come and join the fun for the 20th year. There’s still time to have your group join the parade to usher in the holidays. There are forms at the City Hall to fill out because they would love to know your group is coming, or call Jackie Canter at 216-701-5905 or the mayor’s office 440-237-5686 during business hours 9-4 Monday – Friday.

NR Lions Club accepting Letters to Santa

Children of North Royalton and Broadview Heights are invited to write a letter to Santa this holiday season.
Last year around 150 children dropped off Santa letters and they all received a response.    Because it was such a success last year, the North Royalton Lions Club is once again placing the Santa Mailbox at the North Royalton Fire Station #1 at the City Green.  It will be up between November 1 – December 17, for children to mail their letters to Santa.
Santa and his elves have promised to respond to all the letters, so be sure to have the children include first and last names as well as return addresses.
Letters will be collected from a drop box by the front door of the Fire Department now through December 17.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer