Holiday Lighting Ceremony , 5:30 p . m ., Central Park , Fairfield . Join in as the Fairfield High School Choir goes caroling at 5:30 with the lights in the town square being turned on at 6 p . m . Afterward , Santa will visit with children in the Kandy Kane House , and horse-drawn wagon rides will be available around the square . For more information , contact the Fairfield Chamber at 641-472-2111 or Events @ FairfieldIowa . com .
Nov . 28
Small Business Saturday , downtown Ottumwa . Keep your holiday shopping local by visiting the Ottumwa area ’ s locally owned businesses . Windows will be decorated for the event , and a “ snowball drop ” has offered specials and discounts in years past .
Nov . 30
Young Ambassadors Contest Ceremony , 6 p . m ., virtual on Oskaloosa Main Street Facebook page or visit mahaskachamber . org / mainstreet for updates on a link to view . The Young Ambassador Contest is a competition to find a young boy and girl to represent the community of Oskaloosa in the annual Lighted Christmas Parade and Festival . The contest is for children ages 3 to kindergarten age . The winning children are chosen though a monetary voting system with banks placed at businesses around the community , and funds raised during the contest support holiday activities .
Dec . 5
33rd annual lighted Christmas Parade , 6-8 p . m ., downtown Oskaloosa . Enjoy Oskaloosa ' s brilliant Lighted Christmas Parade in a “ reverse parade ” format . The setup will be similar to a drive-thru holiday lights display downtown , and spectators will be able to drive through the display from the warmth and comfort of their vehicles . The theme for this year ’ s parade is “ Twinkling ‘ 20s .” The shift in format this year is due to continued concerns about the COVID-19 virus and public health risks associated with mass gatherings .
Albia Victorian Stroll , Albia Historic Square . This event transforms the town ’ s square into a picturesque Christmas scene with living Christmas cards in store windows , detailed decorations around the courthouse and its law , Christmas cookies and more . The main event runs in the evening , though festivities run all day .
Sinterklaas Parade , 10 a . m ., Scholte Church to the Tulip Toren , Pella . Come enjoy a unique Dutch tradition by participating in or watching Pella ’ s Sinterklaas Parade . The 2021 Tulip Time Queen and Court will make their first appearance during a brief program following the parade with Sinterklaas , the mayor , the Burgemeester and the Town Crier . The parade will begin at Scholte Church and will proceed to the Tulip Toren . Holiday to-go bags will be handed out at the Scholte Church following the program . Masks are appreciated but not required ; parade participants will be socially distanced ; no traditional meet-and-greet with Sinterklaas after the parade ( tentative ).
Holiday Sample , 10 a . m ., Centerville Chamber of Commerce . Main Street Festival of Trees , Bloomfield Main Street , 101 E . Franklin . Lighted Holiday Parade , Bloomfield .
Dec . 12
Children ’ s Holiday Take and Decorate Extravaganza , 10 a . m . to noon , Webb Shandle Memorial Library , 301 W . Dallas St ., Pleasantville . Come pick up a holiday bag to make your own festive creations from the comfort of your home . Participants are encouraged to send their holiday creations via mail , email or Facebook to the Webb Shadle Memorial Library . Creations will then be shared on social media .
Dec . 14
It ’ s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year , Centerville Square . The all-day event features store specials , breakfast with Santa , free movies , live reindeer and live windows .
Editor ’ s Note : Per CDC guidelines , masks and social distancing are encouraged at public events . Events in this section were scheduled at this publication ’ s deadline . However , the COVID-19 pandemic has left public events in question for much of this year , and it is possible postponements or cancellations have been made in the time between deadline and publication . Please double check each event for that possibility .
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