Holiday events are coming to Washington

Check out numerous holiday events throughout Washington County this holiday season.

Encore Express Senior Dining

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington hosts a meal for those 60 years and older from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of every month. To make a reservation call (319) 653-3950 by 1 p.m. the Tuesday before the meal.

Saturday Kitchen

Every Saturday a free meal is available at 11:30 a.m. at the United Presbyterian Church in Washington.

Holiday Matinee Series

State Theatre will once again offer free movies for the holidays as part of the Holiday Matinee Series. Grab tickets from local businesses and hit the movie theatre on the following days for these shows:

Nov. 28, 29 and 30 Smurfs

Dec. 6 and 7 A Minecraft Movie

Dec. 13 and 14 Elf

Dec. 20 and 21 Dog Man

Jan. 3 and 4 How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

WMU Bake Sale

The Winfield-Mt. Union senior class will host a Thanksgiving Bake Sale Wednesday, Nov. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the Winfield VFW Building. Stop by and fill your table with cinnamon rolls, cakes, pies, cookies, breads and more.

Brighton Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner

Stop by the Brighton Community Center Thursday, Nov. 27 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for the Brighton Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner. The meal includes turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, roll and dessert for dine in or carry out. The meal is free, but freewill donations are accepted. To make a reservation email tommyshelpinghands1@gmail.com

Holy Family Parish Thanksgiving Dinner

The Holy Family Parish will host its 14th Community Thanksgiving Dinner Thursday, Nov. 27 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Parish Hall in Richmonch. RSVP to Joyce at (319) 656-3276

Washington’s Wonderland Trail

While exploring Washington this holiday season, Main Street invites guests to Shop & Explore the Wonderland Trail Nov. 28 and 29th. This year, this will feature four themed quadrants: Gingerbread Boulevard, Candy Cane Avenue, Reindeer Way, and Snowflake Lane. Businesses will be decorate their windows and storefronts to bring a little extra holiday cheer.

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday, Nov. 29 Santa and Mrs. Claus invite you to breakfast at the UP Church from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. for pancakes, meet and greet and a holiday craft. Madison Fishback Photography will be at the ready to offer family pictures for this event. Cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children over three.

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Jingle Bell Fun Run

Run into the holiday season with the annual Jingle Bell Fun Run in Washington Saturday, Nov. 29 with Check-in beginning at 8 a.m. and the race starting at 9 a.m. at JP’s 207.

Cost to participate is one canned good to be donated to HACAP $25 and $10 for those under 10 years. Early registration by Nov. 24 at noon guarantees a commemorative T-shirt and Jingle Bells. Registration is available online via the Facebook event.

Participants may choose the 5K or the 1 Mile length for the Jingle Bell Fun Run. Whichever they choose, costumes are not only welcomed, but highly encouraged. Pets are also welcome to accompany runners for the event.

After crossing the finish line head downstairs at JP’s 207 for postrace fun and prize giveaways.

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Santa’s House

Santa’s House in Washington will open Saturday, Nov. 29 before the lighted parade until 8 p.m. His house will open again Sunday, Nov. 30 from 1-4 p.m. for the opportunity to deliver a wish list to Santa, take photos and enjoy a sweet treat.

Reason for the Season Variety Show

Check out the Reason for the Season: A Few of Our Favorite Things holiday variety show at the Washington Area Performing Arts and Events Center Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. The show will feature songs about ugly Christmas sweaters, shopping, snow, Santa and family along with singing, dancing and so much more performed by local talent.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or online for $10 per adult, $5 for college students and free for children grades 12 and under. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to HACAP to enhance the holiday season for many in the community.

Light the Night

Wellman Community Club will present Light the Night Saturday, Nov. 29 from 5-7 p.m. in downtown Wellman. Tree lighting will begin at 5:15 p.m. followed by photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and other festive activities.

Live Christmas Radio Play

Check out the Washington Public Library front window or tune into KCII at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 to hear this year’s live Christmas radio play. This year’s lineup includes the classic short plays Christmas Bonus and The Magic Christmas tree. Each story features humor, family and holiday cheer.

Lighted Parade and Downtown Lighting Ceremony

Main Street Washington will host the annual Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Lighted Parade beginning at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29 alongside numerous other holiday festivities for the evening including horse-drawn carriage rides and delicious treats and drinks from food trucks.

Candle Light Tour of Homes

Get into the holiday spirit and join the Washington Chamber of Commerce for their 34th Annual Tour of Homes, on Dec. 5-6 from 4-8 p.m. for an opportunity to peek into beautifully decorated homes and businesses while enjoying local history and culture.

Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 during the event weekend, ages 10 and under are free. Purchase online at the www.washingtoniowa.gov or in person at the Washington Chamber of Commerce at 205 W. Main Street.

YMCA Christmas Bazaar

Saturday, Dec. 6 from 8 a.m.-noon the YMCA of Washington County will host the annual Children’s Christmas Bazaar.

The Bazaar helps encourage the gift of giving, in the true spirit for the holiday season. Upon check-in, each child will fill out gift tags for the people they are shopping for. Parents and younger siblings can wait in the lobby and enjoy breakfast treats & refreshments, while the shoppers get to work.

Each child will be assigned an elf, a volunteer from the YMCA acting as their personal shopping assistant.

Items are priced from $0.50 to $5, and range from jewelry to books to items for dads and grandpas. After the items are paid for, kids are taken to a wrapping center where the purchases are wrapped, gift tagged and ready to be set under the tree at home. Children are limited to 10 items.

The bazaar is open to children from any town and a membership to the Y is not required. This event is for children 12 and under.

Registration is required for each shopper. To register contact the YMCA at 319 653-2141

Christmas in Kalona

Head to Kalona Saturday, Dec. 6 for a day filled with holiday activities and shopping opportunities.

Throughout the day kids can pick up a stocking at the Kalona Chamber of Commerce and visit participating businesses to fill their stockings with complimentary festive goodies.

Downtown Kalona

9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Music and campfires along the sidewalks

Hot cider at Best of Iowa

Hot Chocolate at Kalona Chocolates

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Live Nativity and life-size snow globe photo opp at Kalona Library

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Gift wrapping station at Kalona Chamber

10 a.m.

Cookie Walk at Kalona Library

2-4 p.m.

Poured Painting at Kalona Chocolates

Kalona YMCA

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kalona Christmas Market

10 a.m.

Santa Arrives

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Kids’ activities such as face painting, cookie decorating, photos with Santa and more

Kalona Historical Village

4-7 p.m.

Christmas tree walk, caroling, warm drinks and treats, food trucks, free horse-drawn wagon rides

5 p.m.

Lighted Golf Cart Parade running from KCTC Lot to the Historical Village

6 p.m.

Optimist sled giveaway

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Cookies for Santa

Tommy’s Helping Hands will host Cookies for Santa at Brighton City Park and City Hall Saturday, Dec. 6 from 5-7 p.m. The evening will include lighting the tree, cookies for Santa, pictures with Santa and the Grinch, games and a lighted parade. Keep an eye out for a new game, Santa Pants, along with Santa train rides and popcorn to snack on.

Holiday Light Fundraiser

Enjoy lunch or dinner at Cafe Dodici and give back to the holiday lights in Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 10. For all dine in or carryout lunch and dinner orders Dodici’s will donate 10% to support Washington’s holiday lights.

Memorial Trees open house

Friday, Dec. 12 from 1-4 p.m. Hospice of Washington County will hold an open house featuring memorial trees on display through the month of December at the office.

“ We invite you to donate an ornament, in your loved one’s memory to be displayed on the trees, this year and for many years to come. We have had the pleasure of receiving many ornaments that make the Memorial Trees overflow with unique remembrances. We have personalized ornaments of tractors, personal photos, cardinals, Harley-Davidson, fishing, baking, gardening, and handmade craft ornaments that are a small representation of who they are to honor. Ornaments will be placed on the trees for many years, therefore, they are not returnable.”

For more information, contact Jina at 319-653-732

Cozy Crawl

Throw on your pajamas a little early and gather with your favorite people for a relaxed night of holiday fun at the Cozy Crawl Friday, Dec. 12 from 4-7 p.m. A $10 ticket gives participants access to shopping and sipping as they stroll the downtown Washington Square for special deals. Tickets also include cozy socks and a drink ticket to Libations on Iowa. Check out Main Street Washington to purchase.

Nutcracker Ballet

Miss Elizabeth’s Academy of Classical Ballet will present the Nutcracker with free shows at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Washington Community Theater. A free dessert reception will follow each show. Donations will be accepted.

Santa visits Riverside

Santa will visit Riverside Fire Department Saturday, Dec. 13 from 10-11 a.m. thanks to the sponsorship of Betty’s Santa Fund. Santa will make more time to see all the families in line before 11 a.m.

Crawfordville Christmas Creations

Crawfordsville Community Club will host a Christmas Creations event Dec. 13 from 4-7 p.m. with a tour of four homes, events at the fire station, tractor-drawn tours through town to see the lights, cocoa, cookies, games and a visit from Santa. Tour of Homes tickets cost $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Check out the Crawfordsville Community Club Facebook page for additional information.

Holiday Laserfest

With the purchase of tickets online for $30 or at the door of the Washington Performing Arts Center, audiences can experience a holiday light show as the auditorium becomes a canvas with precision lasers dancing around to some of the season’s best music.

Community Christmas Dinner

Tommy’s Helping Hands and Junk Yard Dogs will host a free traditional Christmas dinner at the Brighton Community Center Saturday, Dec. 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with options for dine in or carryout.

Dinner will include ham and turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, rolls and dessert.

Please make reservations to tommyshelpinghands1@gmail.com

Community Christmas Dinner

Washington First Assembly of God will host a Christmas Day dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. To receive a meal call 319 381-2591 and leave your name, whether you’d like dine in, carryout or delivery, the number of meals you are requesting, your address and phone number. You may also email your reservation to wfaevent@gmail.com

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com