Page 4 Hometown Holidays • Thursday, November 27, 2025 pressnews. com
Monticello area’ s holiday season sparkles with favorites
By LAUREN FLAUM Monticello Times
From syrupy stacks of pancakes with Santa to the glow of thousands of twinkling Christmas lights, the Monticello area’ s holiday calendar is packed with festive traditions.
A month of celebrations begins the moment December arrives, with beloved events unfolding one by one across Monticello, Buffalo, Big Lake, and Becker.
The season kicks off Tuesday, Dec. 2, in Buffalo, where the Wright County Historical Society opens the doors to its 19th annual Festival of Trees. Running through Jan. 3, 2026, the display transforms the museum into a forest of brilliantly themed Christmas trees decorated by local families, organizations, and community groups.
This year’ s theme,“ Ugly Sweater Party,” invites decorators to lean into holiday whimsy. Visitors can vote for their favorite trees, explore wreath displays, hunt for clues in a scavenger game, and write letters to Santa. With about 3,000 guests visiting each year, the free exhibit has become one of the region’ s most treasured holiday destinations.
Just a few days later, on Saturday, Dec. 6, Monticello’ s Community United Methodist Church continues a beloved tradition of its own with the
( FILE PHOTO BY LAUREN FLAUM)
Gingerbread ornaments and candy-trimmed décor were part of one of the many themed trees featured during last year’ s Festival of Trees at the Wright County Historical Society in Buffalo. This year’ s display runs from Dec. 2, 2025, to Jan. 3, 2026.
24th annual Christmas Tea. The gathering begins at 9 a. m. with a program, followed by tea, scones, cookies, and shortbread in the Fellowship Hall.
This year’ s featured speaker, Monticello resident and real estate agent Maribel Cruz Longley, will share stories from her recent far-east travels in her presentation“ Trip to China.” A freewill offering supports food assistance and the church’ s program work, keeping the spirit of fellowship at the heart of the event.
The early December weekend is packed elsewhere across the area as well. In Becker, the Sherburne History Center’ s festive Santa’ s Workshop returns from 10 a. m. to
( FILE PHOTO) noon on Dec. 6, offering photos with Santa, crafts, hands-on activities, and holiday treats. In Big Lake, the fire station’ s family holiday celebration and Saron Lutheran’ s cookie walk help usher in a bustling first Saturday of the season.
The following day, Sunday, Dec. 7, another longstanding tradition takes center stage in town, as the Monticello Lions Club hosts its 51st annual Breakfast with Santa. The freewill-donation breakfast runs from 8:30 a. m. to 12:30 p. m. at the Monticello American Legion, with pancakes, eggs, sausage, ham, fruit, pastries, milk, coffee, and juice on the menu.
Children can meet Santa and Gingy the gingerbread man for photos. Proceeds support the Lions’ Christmas Food Boxes— serving as a time-honored fundraiser for the group’ s holiday basket program, which provides Christmas dinners to families in need.
As the month gains momentum, Monticello shifts toward the sweeter side of holiday tradition. On Saturday, Dec. 13, Community United Methodist Church hosts its third annual Cookie Walk, filling the church with tables of homemade cookies, bars, candies, and festive treats. The event has quickly become a favorite for stocking dessert trays and gift tins ahead of holiday gatherings.
That same morning, from 9 a. m. to noon, the Monticello Community Center will host the Indoor Farmers Market – Meet & Greet with Santa. Shoppers can browse local vendors offering baked goods, honey, maple syrup, meats, canned items, mushrooms, and hand-crafted gifts.
Santa will be available for photos during the market, offering families an easy, low-key opportunity to get a holiday picture while supporting local vendors.
As Christmas draws near, holiday music, craft workshops, and children’ s activities continue through mid-December at local libraries and the Monticello Senior Center. These smaller gatherings offer quieter moments of seasonal celebration across the area.
Finally, the month winds down beneath the soft glow of lanterns in Becker, where the Sherburne History Center hosts its fourth annual Candlelight Walk on Saturday, Dec. 27. Families can stroll, ski, or snowshoe the illuminated winter trail between 4:30 and 8 p. m., then warm up with hot chocolate, apple cider, bonfires, and winter treats.
After a full month of festivities, it offers a peaceful, reflective coda to the season.