Santa’s on his way to Hillsboro; he’s counting the days. Are you?

Reports from the North Pole indicate Santa Claus will be in Hillsboro the week before Christmas.

Barring snow storms, delayed flights en route or any trouble at the border, Santa will in Hillsboro Saturday, Dec. 15.

Hillsboro Business Association members coordinating Santa’s visit to Hillsboro again this year has pin-pointed the exact time to 1 p.m.

Santa will have an hour to visit with Hillsboro’s children at the Main Street Community Center. 

Mrs. Claus and two elves will be accompanying Santa on his trip to Hillsboro.

Santa’s visit comes complete with Christmas candy and bags of salted in shell peanuts for the kids, in addition to photo opportunities galore, said Neil Nelson, HBA president.

Families are anxiously waiting for Santa’s visit, Nelson has been instructed.

“The kids along with Santa are counting the days.”

The day Santa arrives in Hillsboro is a banner day for the community, starting with the opening of the FBLA Christmas Store at the Community Center at 10 o’clock in the morning.

Christmas carolers from the high school will be singing all around downtown Hillsboro, also in the morning.

HBA members will be serving hot dogs around noon at the Community Center.

Wagon rides behind Hank Geray’s Belgian horses are planned between 2 and 4 p.m.

Drawings for two giant Christmas presents, for kids 10 and under, and $300 in Hillsboro Bucks for friends of Hillsboro and friends of Christmas are also planned for the Saturday Santa arrives in town. The Generation II 4-H club will have their bake sale in the morning at the community Center.

Meanwhile, Hillsboro’s stores, already decked out for holidays, will be welcoming shoppers in one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas.

Hillsboro’s annual Parade of Lights, on Main from the water town to the fire station, will start at 5 p.m.

HBA members are urging everyone to drive around town after the Parade of Lights and view the many decorated homes. The local business group this year is recognizing the best home displays.

The three residences chosen will have lighted wreathes designating their selection as this year’s finest.

The Parade of Lights awards of excellence in home decorating and lighting is new this year, said HBA members Ang Kritzberger and Steph Olsen.

“We have so many homes with absolutely beautiful decorations that we want everyone to drive around town and experience the Spirit of Christmas in Hillsboro.”

Following the Parade of Lights downtown and all around town, community residents are invited to the Vets Club for a Christmas party.

A complimentary supper will be served at the club, starting at 6 p.m.

Legion and VFW auxiliary members will have chili and homemade soup ready for the Christmas revelers.

“The Christmas party at the Vets Club is a nice way to end a perfect day,” said Nelson.

“From morning carolers to decorated stores and homes to hot dogs (first one $1,second one free), to a visit by Santa to a Saturday afternoon hay ride, celebrating the holidays on a Saturday in December in Hillsboro has become a family tradition, one to be both thoroughly embraced and enjoyed.”

In a small way, it’s another way the Hillsboro Business Association says thanks every year to its many friends, Nelson explains.

“For a few hours, in what we hope will be another beautiful December Saturday, the community comes together in a special way, friends, families and neighbors are all downtown enjoying and celebrating Christmas.

‘We had a glimpse of that just a couple of weeks ago when all our young families were downtown trick and treating at Halloween.”

Christmas is for everyone, HBA members know, but the “young families seeing Santa Claus and visiting Santa is a special experience. But it’s also an experience we all want to be part of.”

Hillsboro welcomes Santa Claus to town in three weeks.

Mark your calendars.