A hometown celebration of the holiday season will be featured during Christmas in Birdsboro, set for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Main Bird Park, 226 N. Water St., Birdsboro.

Visitors to the park will find a host of family-friendly activities. "This year, we will have a snow maze; a mechanical snowboard (activity); a snow-throwing game, which is like ax-throwing with snow; and a gingerbread house inflatable for the little ones," said Christen Thompson, president of the Birdsboro Parks and Recreation Department.

Children will also be able to enjoy a barrel train ride in the park sponsored by Birdsboro Nazarene Church. The church will also offer a children's craft activity.

Santa will be brought in on a Birdsboro-Union Fire Company fire truck at 4:15 p.m., after which he will be in the gazebo and available for photos.

"Kids from Daniel Boone High School and the high school Key Club have volunteered to dress up in costume," Thompson noted. "We will have Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch and Buddy the Elf walking around."

Live music in the park will be provided by the Daniel Boone Area School District chorus and Abundant Life Church. There will also be a presentation by Turning Pointe Dance Studio. "The First Street Players will perform a bit from their show, 'Oliver!'" Thompson pointed out.

Food trucks scheduled to be on hand are Pip and Lily's Loaded Tots, Dough Heads Waffles and Sammy's Steaks & French Fries.

A photo booth will also be available in the park, and visitors will be able to warm up to a large bonfire.

Abundant Life Church will offer hayrides through the town, which will board at the Birdsboro Borough Hall parking lot. "We will have two hayrides this year, which will alleviate (long lines)," noted Thompson.

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church will present a live Nativity, with live animals from Eastwind Farms.

The day will conclude with a Christmas tree lighting at 7:45 p.m., followed by fireworks at 8 p.m.

Parking on Dec. 9 will be available at Daniel Boone Area High School, 501 Chestnut St., Birdsboro. There will be two shuttle buses this year that will provide transportation to the park. Handicapped-accessible parking will be available on Water Street. There will also be parking at the Matthew Brooke Professional Center, 321 N. Furnace St., Birdsboro.

Also on Dec. 9 will be the Santa Run 5K and Fun Run that will start and end at Main Bird Park. The 5K will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the fun run at 10 a.m. The event will take 5K runners through the streets of Birdsboro. The 1-mile fun run will stay within the park. All runners will receive a shirt, Santa beard and Santa hat. The top three division winners, the winner of the fun run and the most festively dressed runner will receive a commemorative ornament.

Following the run, the Birdsboro Community Memorial Center, 201 E. Main St., Birdsboro, will host a craft and vendor show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A "Christmas in Birdsboro" Facebook page has been set up where visitors can obtain updated information about the event. A link to register for the Santa Run 5K and Fun Run is also available on the Facebook page.