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It’s officially Holiday season.  We are in Thanksgiving week which will translate into a smaller Christmas window due to Thanksgiving being so late in the month.  That means we are going to have city celebrations coming at us at a rapid pace.  It all gets rolling this weekend in Taylors Falls.  The super-popular lighting festival runs from Friday thru Sunday and is jam packed with fun events for the entire family.  

Friday starts with specials in most of the downtown stores which also includes hot cocoa, cookies and cider as well as food trucks for your dining pleasure.  Mrs. Claus will be at the library to take letters for Santa and read stories to the young ones.  St. Joseph’s Church will be serving chili and hot dogs and Romaynes will be serving their fan favorite booya.  

The evening caps off with the lighting of the village and a Santa parade.  The lighting is at 6pm with the parade immediately following.  

Saturday has a pancake breakfast at First Evangelical Lutheran Church which also is hosting a wreath making event.  There is a craft fair at the Taylors Falls Community Center all day.  There is a medallion hunt that begins at 10am where the lucky finder takes home $100 cash.  The Ecumenical Vespers will hold a concert at the Methodist Church at 4:30pm. 

Grab the family and head to the community center for family cash bingo which gets rolling at 6:30pm.

 Sunday has tours of the Folsom House tours and Irish dancers will take the stage at the community center at 1:30pm.  The weekend is capped off with a winter concert by the St. Croix Valley Orchestra at the Methodist Church at 3pm.

Just so you can put this on your calendars, Lindstrom will hold their lighting festival Saturday, December 7 and Chisago City will hold theirs on Sunday, December 8. 

I will write more about those in next week’s paper.  

Remember now that Christmas shopping season is in full swing, to please, please look locally before heading to the big box stores or online.  We have so many amazing stores in our area that rely on you and me to keep them in business.  The best part is, whatever you buy locally odds are they can’t be found at the big box stores making the joy much more personalized.  

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.  This is one of my favorite holidays because no gifts are expected, just bring a dish to share and  enjoy food all day with family.  Time to get out my stretchy pants.

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