The St. “Nich” Christmas Fest is back for its third year in a row to spread Christmas cheer, and its new theme, — “Shop Local, Eat Local.”  

The festival is put on by the Kentucky Main Street program Nicholasville Now!, whose board members take about six months out of the year to plan the event. 

“It takes time to get it all put together,” said Ruby Mason, chairperson of Nicholasville Now!

The group spends that time preparing for decorations, advertising and contacting all the local businesses. 

“We get every phase and every business in the community involved,” Mason said. “It’s all about the community.” 

Local business participation is expected to include food, crafts, music, antiques and art. Organizations such as the Rotary Club of Nicholasville, the Jessamine County Extension Office, the Jessamine County Animal Shelter and the Jessamine County Public Library are also expected to participate.

Last year the festival started at McDonald’s on the north end of  Main Street and went to Edgewood Drive, and it brought an estimated 10,000 visitors, Mason said.

This year, the festival has expanded. It now begins at McDonald’s on the north end of Main Street and it will end end at Kroger on the south end of Main Street. 

“It was huge,” Mason said. “And this year, we’re hoping it will be bigger than that.” 

Along with the extra festivities comes extra transportation. For the first time since the festival began, First Southern Bank is sponsoring a trolley that will be offering free rides to downtown destinations throughout the day. 

Whether it’s making sugar cookies at J’s Place, watching Christmas-themed shows by KCAL, singing carols with the Community Christmas Choir, watching the Christmas parade, asking Santa to grant a Christmas wish or running a 5K in the ugliest sweater conceivable, the St. “Nich” Christmas Fest was created for the community. 

“It’s an all day event,” Mason said. “And there’s going to be something for everyone to do.” 

The full schedule of all shopping and events during the St. “Nich” Christmas Fest will appear in the Dec. 1 issue of the Jessamine Journal.