Saturday, Dec. 12: New! Home for the Holidays in downtown Hutchinson's Library Square

Bundle up and bring your family down for an old-fashioned holiday experience in Historic Downtown Hutchinson. Enjoy a traditional sleigh ride, a visit with santa, a stationary Holiday parade and festive treats. Sign up to participate in the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest or warm up inside for a bit while the kids make holiday ornaments to hang. As the daylight draws to a close, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season when the holiday lights turn on and a local community choir sings out carols. Later in the evening, bundle up and board a hay wagon to tour some of the best holiday light displays in town.

There is no fee to attend. Goebels will be c we will be accepting donations for Toys for Tots. You can also bring any of your broken or unused Christmas lights to recycle.

Schedule of Events
< 1 p.m.: Childrens' Ornament Making in the Historic Hotel Jorgenson Lobby, across the street
< 1 to 4 p.m.: Sleigh rides, carolers, vist with Santa, laugh with Beans the Clown, free cider, cookies, and candy
< 1 to 6 p.m.: Stationary Holiday Parade on First Avenue Southeast between Hassan and Main streets. During the parade, Goebel Fixtures will host a children’s toy drive. The company will match any donation made during Saturday’s event. If you’ve got broken or unused Christmas lights, bring them along, too. The Adult Training and Habilitation Center will recycle them.
< 2 to 4 p.m.: Christmas Tree Decorating Contest in Library Square. Registration is required. Call 320-234-0789 or e-mail megan@explorehutchinson.com
< 4 p.m.: Christmas Tree Decorating Contest Judging
< 4:30 p.m.: Christ Tree Decorating Contest Awards                            
< 5 p.m.: Holiday Concert in Library Square's Band Shell

< At 7 p.m. Christmas Tour of Lights. Starting location is at the Hutchinson Burger King along State Highway 7 West in Hutchinson. There's no charge, but a freewill offering will be accepted. This event will only be cancelled if there are dangerously low temperatures or blizzard conditions.

For more information on Home for the Holidays, call the Hutchinson Chamber CVB at 320-234-0789, or e-mail megan@explorehutchinson.com.

To read more about this event, see the print edition of the Hutchinson Leader for Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009.