Christmas coming to Dodge
Christmas celebrations come to Dodge County in a big way this weekend as Kasson, Mantorville, Dodge Center, Hayfield, and West Concord all kick off the holiday season with special events.
Two of the biggest city-wide events are in West Concord and Mantorville.
West Concord Community Christmas Celebration
In West Concord the day gets an early start with fresh, homemade donuts at the Methodist Church from 7 to 11 a.m. The West Concord Fire Department will also be out bright and early collecting toys for the Toys for Tots effort at Centennial Park from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wescon Lanes will serve breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. while several additional events get under way at the Methodist Church at 8 a.m.
From 8 to 11 a.m. people are invited to stop by the church for “Coffee with the Council,” Lions and Cardinal Club fundraisers, and the Park Ice Skate Drive.
At Heritage Bank, the Lions will be offering vision checks for children from 9 to 11. From 9 to noon, Santa will also be at the bank where there will also be a coloring contest and the Sharing Tree. Children who stop by will receive a book provided by the Lions Club and a goodie bag from the Cardinal Club, Lions Club and Historical Society.
From 10 a.m. to noon, there will be horse-drawn wagon rides. Rides begin and end in front of City Hall, weather permitting, of course.
Activities move to the public library at City Hall at 9 a.m. with craft activities for children until noon and kids snowplow safety classes at 9 and 11 a.m. There will be Family Music Fun at 10 a.m.
Also at the City Hall, there will be the annual “Cookies with the Cops” from 9 a.m. to noon.
While you are at the City Hall activities, check out the silent auction that runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The West Concord Historical Society will host its’ annual Craft Fair at the museum from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with lunch available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will also be lunch specials, along with free bowling, at Wecon Lanes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free coffee and door prize registration at Casey’s from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and an open house with coffee and cookies at Boe Auto Center from 9 to 11 a.m. Stop by the barn at the east end of Main Street for “Cookies with the Cows and Hot Beverages.”
West Concord Langemo Post 295 Auxiliary will have a Community Christmas Soup Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Legion Hall on Main Street. Menu includes soup, sandwich and coffee, hot chocolate, beverage.
And, for the adults, there are Bloody Marys and pretzels at the Muni Liquor Store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The action moves back to the Methodist Church at 4 p.m. for the program that will feature the Tree Lighting, bell ringing, a concert with organ/piano/harp/vocal, a live nativity, Christmas drawings, and a visit from Santa.
From 5 to 7 p.m. there will be a free supper in the church basement, sponsored by the West Concord EDA, and featuring BBQs, potato salad, chips, brownie, and beverages.
The day ends with a “Festive Corral at the Bar” and music by HUBBA! at the muni.
Olde Fashioned Christmas
in Mantorville
In Mantorville, stop by the Olde Fashioned Christmas.
Activities get under way early with two breakfasts. From 8 a.m. to noon there will be a candlelight breakfast/live music event at the County Seat Coffee House. Also beginning at 8 a.m. there will be a pancake breakfast fundraiser for the Larger Than Life Art in the Park project at the Saloon 2 Old VFW. This breakfast continues until 11 a.m. The Saloon 2 menu includes pancakes, sausage and choice of juice or coffee. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 10.
Mantorville firefighters will be at Casey’s from 9 a.m. to noon collecting new toys as part of the annual southeastern Minnesota Toys for Tots effort.
The day will feature a variety of events for all ages.
To get visitors in the Christmas spirit, there will be strolling Carolers throughout Mantorville along with bell ringers.
A variety of events are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Horse drawn wagon rides will begin at the Opera House. There will also be miniature horse carriage rides.
The Farmers Market will be indoors at the Welcome Center.
Want a picture with Santa? Santa will be available for selfies. And, of course, there will be the annual Pickle Ornament Hunt.
At the Restoration House at 540 N. Main St., there will be tours of the house while Santa’s Toyland Workshop will be set up at the Greek Revival House, 420 Clay St.
Children are invited to stop by the Mantorville Art Guild between noon and 3 p.m. to make holiday ornaments and there will be cookie decorating for kids from noon to 3 p.m. at Stonebridge Community Church.
Speaking of cookies, the popular Cookie Tin Event is returning this year. Tins are currently available at various Mantorville merchants for $15, and a limited number will be available for purchase on Saturday. Take your tin to participating businesses and organizations and get cookies to fill your tin.
Sixteen businesses and organizations will have cookies available including County Seat, Creative Change Hair Studio, Mantorville Restoration House, Hubbell House, Chocolate Shoppe, Prairie Meadows, Papa’s Roast, Mantorville Farms, Hidden Pines, StoneBridge Community Church, Mantorville Square Antiques, Finds on Fifth, Casey’s, Mantorville Art Guild, Thrivent and Mantorville Senior Center. Check at the event for exact times and locations.
This year’s tin features a holiday picture by local Byron artist Mary Ayshford.
If you come with Christmas shopping in mind, Mantorville businesses will also be open with specials. Staff at Creative Change Hair Studio say they will have “open house fun” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while Bronze & Company will have a Vintage Christmas sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Mantorville Square Antiques will have holiday specials, again, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And Finds on Fifth, next to the Opera House, will have holiday discounts from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Chocolate Shoppe will also be open with chocolate treats and more. The Hubbell House will be having a gift card special, $20 free if you spend $100.
If all this activity is making you hungry, there will be a family lunch at the Seniors Citizen’s Center, 601 Clay St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring chili, mac & cheese, hot dogs and bars.
Finish the day with a performance of The Nutcracker’s Nuts, presented by the Mantorville Theatre Co., at 7:30 p.m. at the Opera House.
Christmas
in Kasson
Christmas in Kasson kicks off with the Santa Parade beginning at 9:15 a.m. The parade starts at K-M Community Education ending at the Colonial Clock Shop on Main Street. Star of the parade is Santa himself, who will be bringing some of his friends along for the ride, and throwing out fun things for the children along the route.
Activities continue in downtown Kasson from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be fun activities for all at downtown merchants including Christmas crafts at Ziebell Law, Kasson Variety, American Legion, Fernbrook Family Center, Semcac/Rolling Hills Transport, and Team O’Malley Counselor Realty.
There will be reindeer food at the Fire Department, photo opportunity with Elf on a Shelf at Main Alternative, Santa Letter/Stocking at the License Bureau, campfire with warm refreshments at Anytime Fitness, pictures with Santa at Colonial Clock Shop, tattoos at Smiling Moose, treat boxes at Johnson’s General Store and cookie decorating at Simply Tidy. Get a Santa hat at The Studio and pick up a surprise bag at Just Like Home.
Live reindeer, sponsored by NextEra, will be at the Kasson Liquor Store.
Trail Creek Coffee will have a Coffee Flight, the Dodge County Salvation Army Canteen Truck will have apple cider and cocoa, Prairie Meadows will have hot cocoa, coffee and cookies and there will be a cinnamon roll drive by at Country Pleasures Caf?.
Pick up a Scavenger Hunt Map at Kasson Laser Graphics or print it off their Facebook page, complete it and return it by Dec. 3 to be entered to win a Kasson Laser Graphic Gift Card.
Pick up a map at downtown merchants, collect eight stamps when you visit the different activities and turn the map in at Kasson Variety for a treat bag and a chance to win $50.
There will be the lighting of the Christmas Tree at 5 p.m. at the empty city lot on Main Street.
Dodge Center
A variety of activities are scheduled in downtown Dodge Center from 1 to 3 p.m.
There will horse-drawn wagon rides, cookie decorating with the Girl Scouts, and chances to win gift baskets and prizes. Kids can write letters to Santa and Santa will make an appearance.
There will be ornament making at the Public Library, hot chocolate at MBT Bank, and an activity for kids at The Green Shack. There will be Toys for Tots collection at the Fire Department and a free flower for the first 50 paying customers who visit Huckleberry Floral Designs and Gifts.
Hayfield Holiday Fest
The event begins on Friday, December 3, with the residential and commercial lighting contest from 6 to 9 p.m. Make sure your outdoor Christmas lights are on for judging. The winners will be announced at the tree lighting on Saturday.
Saturday activities include the Field Crest Bazaar at the Senior Center on East Main Street from 8 a.m. to noon and the Trinity Lutheran Church Bazaar from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a Holiday Pop-Up at the Rieken Building.
From noon to 3 p.m., there will be activities at the Fire Hall including Santa, ornament and cookie decorating, and sleigh rides. Burgers, chili, and soup will also be available at the Fire Hall from noon to 8 p.m. (or until the food is gone).
The cornhole tourney starts at noon at the Oaks with sign-up at 11 a.m.
Also, at noon there will be “Burn Barrels & S’Mores” on Center Avenue South.
There is Family Bingo for all ages at the American Legion from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The lighted parade begins at 6 p.m. with the line-up at the Fire Hall at 5:30. The day concludes with the Christmas Tree Lighting at Center Avenue South at 7 p.m.
For adults there will be an Ugly Sweater Contest at the Village Pub after the parade.