5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Dec. 1-3

The holiday season is in full swing. Instead of bundling up by the fire, here are five things to get you out and about in Westmoreland this weekend.

Holly Jolly Christmas

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the annual Holly Jolly Christmas returns to downtown Latrobe.

The event will feature a meet-and-greet with Santa and Buddy the Elf at the James H. Rogers Memorial Park. The first 300 children will receive a gift bag sponsored by the Greater Latrobe-­Laurel Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Other activities will include story time with Mrs. Claus and holiday crafts at Adams Memorial Library, as well as letters to Santa and donated holiday books and board games available for pickup at the chamber of commerce.

Children can make their own holiday trail mix at the Latrobe Art Center, play in snowball games with Greater Latrobe Parks and Recreation, make reindeer food at Eclectique, grab a snowman kit at Green Goddess and make Advent calendars and decorate cookies at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Local artists will have booths inside Latrobe Art Center selling art and handmade jewelry as part of the center’s annual Holiday Artist Market. Latrobe Area Historical Society and Latrobe Farmers’ Market vendors and artisan booths will be set up at 810 Ligonier St.

The annual Holly Jolly Christmas Gingerbread House Contest also will be on display at this year’s event. Winners will be announced Sunday. Attendees will be able to listen to live music and participate in a holiday raffle if they shop local at the event.

For more, call 724-537-7011 or visit HollyJollyLatrobe.com.

Ligonier Valley Festival of Lights

Ligonier Valley Historical Society will kick off its 40th Festival of Lights in Ligonier Town Hall on Saturday. The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until Tuesday.

Local residents will trim Christmas trees, garlands, wreaths and other holiday staples with lights and handmade decorations to be auctioned, with proceeds benefiting the historical society’s mission.

Admission is $5 for adults, $1 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and younger. Proceeds from the festival will benefit educational programming, archaeological studies and preservation initiatives at Compass Inn Museum.

For more, call 724-238-6818 or email tgrohall@compassinn.org.

Three Centuries of Christmas in America

The Westmoreland Historical Society will begin the annual holiday tours of Historic Hanna’s Town in Hempfield at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Costumed guides will lead guests through buildings from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries adorned in period-correct decorations and share stories about the century’s holiday traditions. The program will review the origins of the Christmas tree, the tradition of mailing cards and the evolution of Santa Claus.

Admission is $10 for historical society members and $12 for others. For more, call 724-836-1800 ext. 210.

Toast to the Trees

Ligonier Valley Historical Society will host the 40th annual Toast to the Trees from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Ligonier Town Hall Community Room on East Main Street.

The event will be a party to kick off the Festival of Lights. Town Hall will be adorned with wreaths, trees and garlands during the event. Hors d’ouevres by Carol and Dave’s Roadhouse will be served as well as drinks by guest bartenders Colleen and Ron McDowell of The Road Toad.

For more, call 724-238-6818 or email tgrohall@compassinn.org.

Greensburg Holiday Market

Greensburg Night Market and Downtown Greensburg Project bring the Greensburg Holiday Market to Live Casino Pittsburgh at the Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

More than 45 vendors will be at the event selling a variety of products including crafts, wood and glass work, soaps and sweets. Food and drink specials will be available. The Steelers game will be on the big screen during the market as well.

For more, visit the Greensburg Holiday Market event page on Facebook.