Two hundred and sixty-nine years ago, members of the Lititz Moravian Church gifted the 3 acres of land that would become Lititz Springs Park to the citizens of what would become Lititz Borough and Warwick Township. It's a gift that's been giving ever since.

So, in keeping with that spirit of giving, it is very fitting that Lititz Springs Park hosts the tradition-laden Christmas in the Park.

"As a park board, we talk about the function and the purpose of the park," said Kellye Martin, a Lititz Springs Park Board (LSPB) member and the chairperson for Christmas in the Park. "The park is supposed to be used for respite and celebration, and we think (Christmas in the Park) is a perfect use of the park. For me personally, Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. (Christmas in the Park) is a great time to bring the community together."

LSPB's 30th presentation of its annual Christmas in the Park celebration will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at Lititz Springs Park, 24 N. Broad St., Lititz. The rain date for the hourlong event has been set for Saturday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m.

The event is free to attend, and everyone is welcome.

"There's a sense of Christmas magic and a feeling of community," said Martin. "It kicks off the Christmas season and brings together the community in a way that only Lititz does. We put aside our differences and come together as a community."

The festivities for Christmas in the Park will revolve around the bandshell and will begin with pre-event music from master of ceremonies Bob D'Imperio at 6 p.m. Local historian Cory Van Brookhoven will provide some historical perspective on the event, followed by a Christmas blessing from Michelle Deibler, chaplain at UPMC Lititz, and the lighting of the town Christmas tree by Mayor Tim Snyder.

Christmas in the Park will also feature a performance by the Warwick High School choir and a special reading of "The Night Before Christmas," as well as the smells and tastes of four food trucks.

"People bring blankets and snuggle up with their families. And we keep it moving," said Martin. "It's always a nice small-town feel, with charm, innovation, fun and unexpected things."

"My favorite part is, if we're able to get a special appearance by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, just seeing the joy on everyone's faces," she added.

Nearly 1,500 individuals are expected to attend.

"This is one event in the park where I do see a lot of familiar faces," said Martin. "It's mostly residents of Lititz and Warwick Township, but we'll have some people come in from Ephrata, Manheim Township and Lancaster."

Christmas in the Park is one of 12 events that Lititz Springs Park hosts annually and just one of two staged by LSPB. Traditionally, Christmas in the Park, which was established in 1994 to celebrate the rededication of the Nativity creche in the downtown's square, is Lititz Springs' final event of the calendar year.

"We see the beauty in the space, and we see the uniqueness of its position in the middle of town," said Martin of Lititz Springs Park. "It's mostly flat and there are amenities there. It can be a blank slate for events, and it can be personalized in how it's used. The park board is entrusted to make sure the grounds are preserved and to make it available to the next generation. We have this great park and the question becomes, 'How can we use it to benefit the town as a whole?'"

For additional information about Christmas in the Park, go to http://www.lititzspringspark.org/christmas.html.