Included in the current issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine as one of six family friendly celebrations, the 35th annual Olde Time Christmas in Jim Thorpe will be held throughout the month of December with special events on Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

Presented by the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, Jim Thorpe's Destination Marketing Organization, the town bedecked in Victorian holiday style rolls out the red ribbons enchanting visitors and locals alike. With Santa, strolling carolers, characters, magicians and musicians, there's lots of free fun for the whole family.The tree lighting celebration at Josiah White Park (train station) kicks off the festivities onDec. 3 beginning at 5 p.m. with live music and caroling. Santa will arrive by firetruck at 6 p.m. to light the Jim Thorpe Christmas tree donated by Beisel's Christmas Tree Hill in Lehighton.Also Friday evening, the historic St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 21 Race St., will host an open house, with tours, caroling, guitar music and refreshments, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Donation requested to benefit St. Mark's.Throughout Olde Time Christmas, goers will enjoy train rides with Santa, a gingerbread house display and children's story time at the Dimmick Memorial Library, 54 Broadway, the ninth annual display of more than 400 crèches from around the world (Dec. 3 and 4) at St. John Lutheran Church, 319 South Ave., holiday shows and concerts at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway, and shopping Jim Thorpe's 35 unique shops and galleries for that perfect gift.Lovers can celebrate a little holiday romance and meet under the mistletoe all over the town named by Philadelphia Magazine as its 2012 Best of Philly: Best Romantic Getaway. The shops, galleries, restaurants, pubs and other local businesses will have sprigs of the "kissing plant" strategically hung. Folks can bring home a little Jim Thorpe love, with mistletoe sold by JTTA outside of the train station in Josiah White Park.A visit to the Gilded Cupid, 40 Broadway, will take folks back in time with a German old-world themed tree display on Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10, from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Those evenings, J.F. Hiatt's fireside stories for adults only are also back by popular demand at 9 p.m. onDec. 3 and 10. Reservations are required. Refreshments will be served. $10.New to the festivities this year, the Mauch Chunk Ballroom, upstairs from the Mauch Chunk Museum at 41 W. Broadway, will play host to live family entertainment - juggler, magician, musicians, Christmas movies with popcorn, face painting, crafts, refreshments and more.Other inaugural events include a Christmas Cookies and Cocktails Crawl, Karaoke in the Park and an Ugly Sweater Party. Immaculate Conception Church, 180 W. Broadway will present an hourlong Advent Reflection program with a Scripture reading, Christmas carols and children from the parish re-enacting the Nativity scene onDec. 17.There are many charitable opportunities to give back this year, including the annual Toys for Tots Drive and Mitten Tree collections. Lioness Club members will dress in Victorian costume, sell cookies, and crafts at the Tolman House to benefit scholarships and local food banks. The kiddies will also have an opportunity to create cards for sick children in local hospitals at the Mauch Chunk Ballroom.For more information on Olde Time Christmas events, follow us at

www.facebook.com/JimThorpeOldeTimeChristmas or visit

www.jimthorpe.org.