MARYSVILLE — Saturday, Dec. 7, will mark the 25th anniversary of “Merrysville for the Holidays,” and its first-ever fireworks show after the water tower lighting at 7 p.m.

“The Marysville City Band will be playing simultaneously with the fireworks show, but not necessarily in sync with them,” Marysville Parks and Recreation Director Jim Ballew said. “It’s being done by the same local company that does the fireworks during the Strawberry Festival, only these are smaller scale and lower in the sky. Still, they’re promising colors and effects they’ve never delivered before, so that 10-minute show should be thrilling.”

Comeford Park will still offer all the familiar favorites of the annual event, from the arts and crafts fair inside the Ken Baxter Community Center to the festival of photo opportunities outdoors, with seasonal displays that Ballew deemed picture-perfect to be turned into their own holiday postcards.

While Grand Marshal Carol Kapua gets to flip the switch to light up the water tower in honor of helping to start this event 25 years ago, Ballew has been with Merrysville for the Holidays since its beginning as well, having missed it only one year.

“I love the holidays here,” said Ballew, who encouraged people to check out the return of the Electric Lights Parade on State Avenue starting at 6:30 p.m. “This event truly captures the essence of a small, united community.”

Another new wrinkle in this year’s activities is the “Late ‘til 8” shopping offered by the Downtown Marysville Merchants Association, which will be keeping stores on historic Third Street open from their regular times until 8 p.m. that Saturday, as part of their annual “Passport to Christmas.”

“Bert and Herb, our strolling minstrels, will be going from store to store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” Hilton Pharmacy owner Mary Kirkland said. “We’re not sure yet if Santa will be able to put in an appearance near the Outer Court, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Kirkland echoed Ballew’s assessment of the atmosphere of Marysville’s community celebrations, especially during the holidays.

“It really does feel like an old-fashioned family gathering,” Kirkland said. “It’s not slick or plastic. It’s real people having real fun.”