The Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society, the Loving Shepherd Food Pantry and the Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library are kicking off the holiday season with “A Hometown Christmas” celebration. A fun-filled day with focus on the family will be held on Sunday,
November 23.
The day will begin with an open house at the historic Abernathy House and viewing of the sanctuary, many Nativity scenes, and a Memory Tree at the Blakesburg Methodist Church from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Abernathy House will feature beautiful Christmas decorations, as well as a display of a Dept. 56 Dickens Christmas Village and a display of Victorian dolls. Mrs. Claus will also be at the Abernathy House from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. to accept letters to Santa at an antique Post Office windowthat will be set up in the 1892 Victorian home.
A free-will donation soup and sandwich luncheon will be held at the Blakesburg Community Building from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The meal will feature chili, vegetable, and potato soup, pulled pork sandwiches, a variety of desserts, and beverages.
After lunch be sure to stop by the Blakesburg Public Library for Cookies and Cocoa with Santa from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Participants can take a picture with the jolly old man, tell him their wish list, decorate and eat a cookie with a cup of cocoa, and write a letter to Santa to take to the Abernathy House.
The Library will host an interactive movie from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Participants will follow a script to play and sing along with Buddy the Elf, in the Christmas Classic, “Elf.” This is a fun event for all ages.
A tree-lighting ceremony followed by a sing-along “Christmas Carol Karaoke” event will be held in the city park at 5:00 p.m. The public can walk or drive through town to see the homes participating in the “Hometown Christmas Decorating Contest” from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Maps to the homes vying for the $100 first-place decorating contest prize will be available at the Library, the Abernathy House, the Community Building, and the Blakesburg Methodist Church.
For information and contest rules, contact Cheryl at 641-777-0048 or email blakesburglibary@gmail.com.
Individuals who would like to buy a $5 rose to remember a deceased loved one on the Memory Tree that will be displayed at the Blakesburg Methodist Church through Christmas should contact Ilene at 641-777-3926. Those who would like to share their Nativity scenes in that display at the church should contact Helen at 641-777-4622 for more information. There is a $10 fee to display each Nativity set, and owners will oversee setting them up and taking them down.
The Loving Shepherd Food Pantry serves many in our community as well as the surrounding area who are in need due to food insecurity. This year, the need is greater than ever. The Blakesburg Historical Preservation Society owns and curates the museum and Abernathy
House and provides many educational and recreational events to help preserve the community’s history.
The Friends of the Blakesburg Public Library supports the library in providing resources, access to technology and educational programs for Blakesburg residents.
Most of the activities for the daylong celebration are free to the public. The fees for the Memory Tree and Nativity sets, along with the funds raised from the luncheon will help fund programs and services of the three participating non-profit organizations who are teaming up to host a second year of holiday events.
The following sponsors are also helping to make this holiday celebration possible: C-1 st Credit Union, DT Express, Whispering Woods LLC, and a number of donors who choose to remain anonymous.
