The holidays are but a few weeks away and the planned events are shaping up nicely. The Christmas committee has many new activities this year, sure to get everyone excited about the season and, hopefully, encourage everyone to shop hometown.

Thursday, December 2

The Christmas Stroll is from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Non-profit organization will have food “booths” in front of stores in the downtown area selling everything from hot cocoa to chili in a bag.

The Lighted Christmas Parade will begin at 6:30 p.m., make its way through downtown, and end at the Kalona Historical Village. All entries will be parked for a while for everyone to inspect.

The evening’s last event will be the official lighting of the Kalona Historical Village at 7 p.m. All the lights will be lit simultaneously during the ceremony, concluding with everyone receiving a candle and singing traditional Christmas carols. The village will be open, free of charge, from 7 to 9 p.m. Regular hours and admission fees will continue the rest of the holiday season.

Saturday, December 4

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by fire engine and will be in the Chamber of Commerce Building on B Avenue from noon until 2:30 p.m. The annual cookie walk will also be in the Chamber building that day.

Mike, Carla, Shawn and Jaime Krantz, owners of Home on the Hill Bed and Breakfast, will hold their annual open house, “A Christmas to Remember”, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Open to the public, the tour will include approximately ten indoor Christmas trees decorated by the Krantzes, and a “Wonderland of Trees” decorated by various area youth groups. All trees will be donated after the tour to residents in need of a tree. Admission is $3.00 per person and includes homemade cookies and hot chocolate, and a neighborhood carriage ride, provided by Dave Norman, after each tour. All money is used for the annual festivities. For more information, please call the Krantzes at 319-656-5344.

If you would like to have an entry in the parade, please call Gaye Van Winkle at the Kalona News - 319-656-2273 - to register by Friday, November 19. Registration is very important so the committee will know how much space is needed to organize the number of entries at the starting point. All entries must have colored Christmas lights. In case the streets are slick, we ask that no candy be thrown.

If your non-profit organization desires to sell food at the Christmas stroll, please contact Van Winkle at the Kalona News by November 19 also. We need to know what you are planning to sell (Van Winkle has a list of popular and unique ideas for those who want something a little different) and what store you would like to be in front of. Each merchant can help by allowing the vendors to use electrical outlets in their stores to keep the food and drink warm. Please contact Van Winkle as soon as possible in order to avoid duplicate food wares.

Christmas in Kalona sweatshirts will be on sale in approximately two weeks. All proceeds will be used for the Christmas events. Definite information, such as cost and where sweatshirts can be purchased, will be in next week’s edition of the Kalona News.

All residents who purchase a sweatshirt are encouraged to wear them on December 2, as part of the Christmas kickoff.

Please plan to take an active part in Christmas in Kalona this year. Your willingness to get involved provides the Christmas spirit for the community and helps to make the starting base for an annual event that will, no doubt, grow each year.