OrbitMediaOnline.com

The New Concord Area Arts & Recreation District (NCAARD) is hosting the Christmas Eve Jingle 2020 Thursday, Dec. 24. Village residents are encouraged to go outdoors and ring bells at 6 p.m. for two minutes.

Program director Mary Beth Caudill said the idea was inspired by the Worldwide Christmas Eve Jingle 2020 event she saw on Facebook.

“Basically, this is another way for people to feel connected – at least a little bit – during this difficult time of COVID-19. We all need something to look forward to, and I think it is great that we’ve had so many people excited about it,” said Caudill.

The group page, which has over 419,000 members, posted “what started as a little idea for the Harrogate Community [North Yorkshire, England] is starting to spread so thought a group would be a good idea for all communities all over the world to join in.”

NCAARD provided jingle bells for community members at the Dec. 7 Christmas in the Village event. As of Dec. 23, Caudill has distributed almost 250 wrist bells to community members,

“I wanted to make things ‘easier’ by giving out free ‘official’ wrist jingle bells, but people are encouraged to ring whatever bells they might have,” said Caudill.

NCAARD is also working with the local church community to take part in the event by ringing church bells on Dec. 24.

Caudill asks residents to record their family’s jingle event and send a 2-3 second video file to NCAARD by 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve to be included in the community jingle video. The video will release on Christmas Day.

Videos can be emailed to NCAARD@newconcord-oh.gov.

WMCO programming note: Listen to the rebroadcast of the 2019 Muskingum University Christmas Festival on WMCO 90.7 Dec. 24-26 at 5 p.m. The program, originally recorded Dec. 7, 2019, features the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Chamber Orchestra.