A Season of Gratitude and Holiday Magic in Fairfield

What a truly wonderful holiday season it has been here in Fairfield! Our hearts are full of gratitude as we reflect on the joy, generosity, and community spirit that filled the square throughout the season.

This year, Santa’s Houses welcomed nearly 1,000 children, including a few visitors who were only days old. While the weather wasn’t always kind and attendance dipped slightly, the holiday spirit certainly did not. Smiles, laughter, and festive cheer were abundant every night.

The annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony was nothing short of magical. We are deeply thankful to Everybody’s Whole Foods, our presenting sponsor, who also supported our Tree of Lights fundraiser. Dexter Laundry generously served as both our film sponsor (and we use a lot!) and our horse-drawn wagon sponsor. A special thank-you to Smith Family Farms for always ensuring wagon riders had a wonderful experience.

We were honored to have Werner Elmker and Diane Goudy, our 2025 Citizens of the Year, flip the switch and officially kick off the holiday season. We are grateful they were able to join us for such a special moment.

Many thanks to Hy-Vee for donating candy canes, with additional support from Pegasus Wellness and IV Therapy. Our hot cocoa sponsors — TDT CPAs & Advisors, SERVPRO, Washington State Bank, Morrissey Law Office, and Cranston Family Funeral Home — helped keep families warm, while cookies were generously provided by McDonald’s, TDT CPAs & Advisors, Pegasus Wellness and IV Therapy, and Cranston Family Funeral Home. We are also thankful to AERON Lifestyle Technology, our Platinum Book Sponsor, with additional book sponsorship from First MainStreet Insurance, and to Scholastic, our valued literacy partner. We were able to gift an age appropriate book to every child who visited Santa.

None of this holiday magic would be possible without the dedication of the Fairfield Streets Department. Their hard work ensured everything was set up, maintained, and beautifully lit night after night. We are also grateful to Drish Construction for safely transporting Santa’s House and Workshop to and from the square.

This year’s ornaments — beautiful round designs — were created by the Fairfield High School SkillsUSA Class, who also refreshed and upgraded the Elf House, ensuring it will remain a cherished part of our holiday tradition for years to come.

A heartfelt thank-you to Petal and staff for making Santa’s House look festive and welcoming, and to our wonderful Santas—Kevin Frisbee, Dr. Marty Gleason, Lee Dimmitt, Eric Sutherland, Matt Groenedyk, and Brett Potash — for listening to the hopes and wishes of children throughout the season.

Santa’s magic wouldn’t happen without his elves! We are grateful to our staff, board members, ambassadors, and volunteers from AERON Lifestyle Technology, Hy-Vee, T-Mobile, Cambridge Investment Research, Ottumwa Radio, Washington State Bank, Maharishi School, Live Wire Electric, Straight Up Doors, Community 1st Credit Union, SERVPRO, and Prestige Care Center for stepping up and lending a hand.

New this year was nightly caroling, which added even more magic to the square. Our sincere thanks to the Fairfield High School Choir for making the lighting ceremony unforgettable, along with additional carolers from our Chamber Board and Ambassadors, the Sander/Caplan families and friends, Work of Life Lutheran Church, Girl Scout Service Unit 941, Maharishi School, and Fairfield Youth Performing Arts.

Our Tree of Lights Campaign continues to shine brightly. We are deeply thankful for every dollar donated to help keep this beloved holiday tradition on the square free and accessible to all. Exciting changes are planned again this year, and every contribution truly matters.

Most importantly, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families who joined us on the square to celebrate the season. Thank you for being part of this tradition — we hope you felt the warmth, joy, and holiday magic that make Fairfield such a special place.