Written by contributing blogger Vicky Van Harlingen of the Warren County Historical Society. 

"Christmas in Lebanon" is almost upon us. Anyone who loves Christmas is making plans to be part of the crowd on December 3rd when over one-hundred carriages and more than three-hundred horses thrill men, women and children as they parade down Broadway in one of the most spectacular parades in the country. Decked out in their best harnesses, the beautiful carriage horses make you dream of by-gone days.

In the weeks leading up to the parade the horses and their owners are arriving in Lebanon and getting ready for the big day. The horses are bathed and brushed and brushed some more so that their winter coats shine. The wagons and carriages are washed and buffed and their decorations are planned and assembled. It's as much fun for the carriage families to be part of the parade as it is for the on-lookers lining the parade route.

It's usually cold that first Saturday in December, as it should be, its December after all, sometimes it even snows. But that hasn't seemed to stop the crowds who begin setting out folding chairs to mark their spots along the sidewalks at 10:00 am. The first parade doesn't start until 1:00 pm, but there's plenty to do. Mulberry Street transforms itself into a holiday bazaar with vendors selling food and hot drinks, and the shops on Broadway doing a brisk business in specialty Christmas gifts. The LM&M Railroad runs "The Polar Express" non-stop, the Golden Turtle Chocolate Factory is packed full with customers and the Golden Lamb Inn is busy serving diners eager to immerse themselves in its historic ambiance. With a little imagination you could believe it is 1845 and Charles Dickens appears on the street to complain that there was no decent drink to be had in this town - his stage coach made a pit stop at the Golden Lamb which at the time was a temperance hotel and sold no alcoholic beverages.

When you come to the Lebanon Christmas Festival and Horse Drawn Carriage Parade on December 3, be sure to look for Charlie Poppe and his antique Victoria carriage pulled by a matched pair of Hackney carriage horses. The carriage will be decorated with poinsettias and greenery and the horses will have flowers and bells braided into their manes. The antique Victoria carriage was made for the 1876 Centennial Exposition and is in demand for display all over the country. It's a most elegant carriage designed for wealthy Victorian ladies who wanted to be seen to best advantage.

The Poppes live on the east side of Cincinnati and have brought their horses and carriages to the parade in Lebanon every year since it began. "My wife and I travel all over the country participating in parades and carriage events and this is still the best parade around. It's the best organized, the hospitality and camaraderie are super and the Lebanon Chamber's volunteers are the greatest".

After the 1 p.m. parade many folks walk up the hill to Glendower Historic Mansion where costumed interpreters share the old house for a small fee, all decorated for Christmas in a grand style. Others will visit the Christmas Craftsman and Artisan Fair next door to the Museum on Broadway where you can shop for gifts, buy wonderful baked good and holiday foods, learn to make a beautiful holiday wreath and hear Zachariah Johnson, 1898 Christmas Story Teller share tales of long ago.

At 7:00 pm the "Candle Light" parade begins. It is dark and the carriages stream down Broadway covered in battery powered Christmas lights, the horses blowing steam and stepping briskly. It's a breath taking site and many folks have come just for this fairy tale extravaganza. As the last horse and carriage passes by the crowd there is an audible sigh of satisfaction and expectation. Now the Christmas season has truly begun.

Click here for more information about the Lebanon Christmas Festival including video and festival details.
Also see the Carriage Association of America's website at www.caaonline.com.

The holiday's are here in Warren County, Ohio! The stockings, ornaments and Christmas recipes may still be in the box, but the streets and storefronts of the cozy small towns are in full holiday swing.

Meet Santa, watch majestic Clydesdales stride down Main Street and be a kid again with the Top 5 FREE Holiday festivities you don't want to miss this season.

5) Holiday Open House

Historic Downtown Lebanon, just named "Best Hometown 2012" by Ohio Magazine, invites you to a Holiday Open House Nov. 25-26. More than 25 downtown merchants will participate in this annual event. Enjoy later hours, in-store refreshments and just the right gift you were looking for in downtown Lebanon. For more info visit Historic Downtown Lebanon online.

4) Santa's Silver Celebration

The 25th Annual Christmas in Historic Springboro themed "Santa's Silver Celebration" will be held Nov. 18, 19, and 20. Each year the annual festival is recognized as the largest 3-day holiday festival in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana by attracting over 50,000 visitors. Get more info at Springboro Festivals online.

3) Christmas in the Village

Experience an old-fashioned Christmas with 1300 luminaries lighting your way. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, a heated entertainment tent and decorated store fronts as you stroll the charming streets during Waynesville's annual Christmas in the Village Dec. 2-4. Find more information at Waynesville online.

2) Christmas in Mason

Celebrate Christmas in Mason. Festivities include a parade, horse-drawn carriage rides, caricature artists, ice carvers, stage entertainment, pictures with Santa and much more! Friday Dec. 2. 6:00 -9:00 p.m. More info at Festivals of Mason.

1) Lebanon Christmas Festival and Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade

Named as the "Best Place to Feel the Christmas Spirit" by Over the Back Fence Magazine, the Historic Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade & Christmas Festival's two parades have delighted thousands throughout the years. Historic buildings provide the perfect backdrop for this ever-popular festival, featuring more than 100 horse-drawn antique carriages. Throughout the day enjoy carriage rides, live entertainment and street vendors. The parade is on Saturday, Dec. 3 in downtown Lebanon. Parade times are 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. More Info.

These time-honored traditions are the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. So, grab your earmuffs, mittens and a cup of hot cocoa and we'll look forward to giving you a hearty "Season's Greetings".