Holiday Wonderland comes to downtown Washington this weekend

WASHINGTON — Main Street Washington’s annual holiday celebration will return this year on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving, bringing horse-drawn carriages, holiday lights, and numerous festivities to the square.

The day full of activities is rebranded as “Wonderland Holidays in Washington” this year, losing the “SNOW” moniker from previous years. Main Street Washington Director Samantha Meyer said the change made sense.

“We got that branding grant through Main Street Iowa, and this was part of it,” she said. “SNOW stood for ‘Showcasing Nights of Washington,’ and nobody really knew that, and most of our events aren’t in the evening anymore.”

Saturday will feature the whole slew of holiday traditions for the community, including breakfast with Santa at UP Church, a radio play at the library, and the awe-inspiring downtown lighting ceremony, among others. Marion Avenue Baptist Church’s live animal Christmas show will also make a return after taking last year off.

Meyer said Main Street hoped to provide a day of fun for participants, and said she especially looked forward to the evening’s most popular event, a lighting ceremony that sees the entire downtown area illuminated by the soft glow of bulbs installed on every building and memorial tree.

“Anybody who has a tree in honor or in memory of someone, we read their names and it’s just a really special event,” Meyer said. “I just hope to see the central park really packed full of families and people watching, everybody there taking a walk through the Lights of Love trees.”

That main attraction is followed by the lighted holiday parade, also on Washington’s square, in its 29th year. Horse-drawn carriage rides and visits with Santa are also planned for the evening.

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Washington Holiday Wonderland schedule:

Breakfast with Santa: 8-10 a.m. at UP Church, 209 East Main Street.

Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast prepared by the Washington Lions Club. Bring your camera to capture precious moments with Santa and Mrs. Claus as they listen to Christmas music & make a holiday craft! Tickets are $7 for adults, $3 for children 3 and up.

Jingle Bell Fun Run: registration opens 8 a.m., race starts 9 a.m.

Join Main Street Washington for a festive fun run through downtown! Bring your family and friends (with two legs or four) and wear your best festive costumes! There’s a prize giveaway party afterward at JP’s 207, the front of which is also the starting line for the race. Entrants are advised to bring a can of food as part of their registration cost.

Reason for the Season Variety Show: 1 p.m.

A variety show featuring dancing, singing and Santa will take place at the Washington High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10, with proceeds donated to HACAP.

Live Radio Play: 5 p.m.

Tune into KCII or join the crowd in front of the Washington Public Library for this live event, which will tell the story of a young girl who wanders the town square with her little brother.

Lighting Ceremony and parade: 6 p.m.

Join Main Street Washington at the Bandstand for the Annual Lights of Love Memory Trees ceremony. Following the ceremony, at approximately, 6:30 p.m., the 29th Annual Lighted Holiday Parade kicks off and circles downtown. Those interested are advised to arrive early, as the lighting ceremony’s timing is not precise.

Horse-drawn carriage rides are also back this year, starting at Mama Llama’s Sale Barn before and after the parade.

Santa’s House: is expected to appear at the Washington Public Library after the lighting ceremony Nov. 30, and will open again on Dec. 1 from 1-4 p.m. Kids can deliver their wish lists, take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and receive a sweet treat when they visit.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com