Even though it will be more than two weeks away, Christmas singers, a candlelight tour and even Santa will be coming to Ironton this weekend.

Candlelight Christmas

Saturday, the Lawrence County Historical Society will have its Candlelight Christmas Tour, beginning at 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Fifth and Vernon streets. The tour of Ironton's historical churches will progress to Christ Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Lawrence O'Toole Catholic Church, Gateway Baptist Church and end at the Lawrence County

Museum. Each church will present a 10-minute program, and the guests will be served refreshments at the end.

Lunch With Santa

West Ironton Kindergarten Principal Annette Massie has fond memories of visits with Santa when she was a child.

"My parents always took me to the mall and I'd get to meet with Santa and tell him all the neat things I wanted," she said. "I remember the (JC) Penney store in Ironton. When toyland would open up, it was time for Santa.

"I wanted a bake set, and a certain doll to cook for, so I could be just like my mom. I got them. I don't know if I was really good that year, or I was just deceiving."

Santa will revisit Massie, the children she supervises and any others who may stop in from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The event doubles as a fund-raiser for the school. Lunch will be $2.50 and pictures of children with Santa will be $3. Also, students have sold raffle tickets for two $100 prizes and $100 in groceries from Bartram's. Children can also win baskets of candy and toys. The child that sells the winning tickets will receive $10.

Ironton High School Singers Concert

"These kids have been practicing since September," Kathryn Price, director of the Ironton High School Singers, said about her group's upcoming Christmas concert. "The teachers in the classrooms on both sides of me said, 'Gosh, you're doing Christmas music already?'"

At 2 p.m. this Sunday, the singers will perform their annual Christmas concert at the IHS auditorium. The program will consist of two parts -- the first, sacred (religious songs) and the second, secular (traditional songs). Between the programs IHS band director Bill Rath's instrumental ensemble will play. Admission is free.

Even though most of the concert will feature traditional Christmas carols, Price said

some songs many people have never heard will be performed as well.

"We try to mix it up," she said.