Waitsburg Hometown Christmas, Dec. 3-4

WAITSBURG – Each year, on the first weekend in December, Waitsburg families flock to Main Street to enjoy Waitsburg’s annual Christmas celebration. This will be Waitsburg’s 31st Hometown Christmas.

Main Street will be decked out with a large community Christmas tree, decorated by Waitsburg students, in front of the Plaza Theater. Garlands and wreaths will hang festively from the light poles. Smaller themed trees, from the FFA’s Festival of Trees, will line the sidewalks.

Saturday, December 3

On Saturday at 9 a.m., Town Hall will open its doors to the public. Chef Jeff Davis, of Chef Jeff’s Soups, will serve breakfast and lunch, while vendors staff tables filled with treats, handcrafted goods, gift items, and other wares.

A cookie exchange and a children’s cookie decorating workshop will take place from 1-3 p.m. Community members are invited to bring two dozen of one type of cookie and exchange them for two dozen of assorted varieties. Supplies and cookies will be furnished for children to decorate and take home (or eat).

Prints by local photographer Vance Price will be on exhibit at the Ten Ton Press building from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. An official reception for his show is slated for Sat., Dec. 10.

At 4 p.m. the American Legion Auxiliary will host its popular Turkey Bingo fundraiser at the Waitsburg Elementary School Multipurpose Room. Doors open at 3 p.m.

Sunday, December 4

Vendors will return to Town Hall on Sunday morning and local bluegrass groups and students will provide musical entertainment throughout the day. Chef Jeff will once again provide breakfast and lunch.

Santa Claus will make a special appearance at The Q from 1-3 p.m., and children are encouraged to stop in and share their gift list. They will enjoy a special visit with Santa as well as a free goodie bag and a photo to capture the memory.

At 2 p.m. a community hayride will depart from in front of the Nothing New Antiques/Fancy Treasures building. All are welcome to hop on board and enjoy the ride.

Everyone will want to be present at Town Hall at 4 p.m. for the annual giveaway drawings. For every $5 spent in town in the weeks leading up to Hometown Christmas, shoppers earn one drawing ticket. Winners must be present at the drawing to claim prizes.

This year’s prizes include gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants, gym memberships, Christmas décor, frozen turkeys, RV parking, and more.

At 5 p.m., festivities take to the street for the annual lighted Christmas parade featuring lighted floats, animals, bikes, and more. The WHS band will perform on the Weller Library steps during the parade.

After the parade, warm up at Town Hall with the annual Bill Thompson Memorial Chili Feed. The meal of chili, soup and bread, prepared by Whoopemup Café’s Chef Bryant, is $5 per person and $20 per family.

Register for the parade or to sell your wares at Town Hall by visiting cityofwaitsburg.org, clicking on the Community Events tab, and scrolling to Hometown Christmas.