Events

Belle Plaine Specialty Care hosts Bingo with Care Initiatives Hospice at 2 p.m.

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Friday, Dec. 1

Cookies, cookies and more cookies will headline Amana Church’s annual Prelude to Christmas Bazaar at the Amana Church in the heart of the village of Amana, half a block north of Main Street. The Holiday Bazaar features homemade foods: yeast breads and kuchens, jams, jellies, salsa, fudge and caramel popcorn; as well as handmade craft items such as woodwork, needlework, Christmas décor, ornaments and unique treasures. The bazaar is open noon to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 2

North English businesses and organizations will have activities and sales all day to celebrate the holiday season. The English Valleys History Center will be open for coffee and conversation beginning at 7 a.m. and will open its new Veterans Room. Children can have breakfast with Santa from 9-10 a.m. at Knoll Ridge, and residents can shop a craft fair at English Valleys Junior-Senior High School. A Christmas Home Tour will showcase the Ken and Barbara Brown home at 113 S. Main St from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the community center will offer free hot chocolate, hot cider and trail mixes.

The Amana Church Holiday Bazaar is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Amana, a half block from Main Street. Parking is available behind the church. Visitors should enter through the west door. The Holiday Bazaar features homemade foods: yeast breads and kuchens, jams, jellies, salsa, fudge and caramel popcorn; as well as handmade craft items such as woodwork, needlework, Christmas décor, ornaments and unique treasures.

The Amana Church Prelude to Christmas Cookie Walk begins at 10 a.m. Visitors can pick up cookie walk reservations beginning at 9 a.m. Every 15 or 20 minutes, 30 people are allowed to enter the walk room, wearing gloves, and select cookies and candies from among all the baked goods available. A cookie box costs $30 and holds about six dozen cookies and candies. The walk continues until all the sweets are gone.

Jingle Around the Square is set for Saturday, Dec. 2 from 5-7 p.m. Businesses will offer treats, coupons, sales, cocoa or cider and novelty items to children and adults who visit their businesses from 5-7 p.m. during Jingle on the Square in Marengo. Residents and visitors can stop at City Hall at 5 p.m. to receive their jingle bags and maps. The annual parade will begin at 6:45 p.m. Santa will be at the new American Legion Hall, 1648 Franklyn Ave. from 4-7 p.m. The Snow Globe Dancers from Leanne’s School of Dance will entertain on the Marengo square at 5:15 p.m., and a horse-drawn wagon will take residents for a ride during the evening.

Four beautiful homes and an active blacksmith shop will be open for holiday touring at this year’s annual Amana Arts Guild Holiday Haus Walk. Three former kitchen houses and a cottage style house in West Amana will be featured. The cost for the tour is $15 per person. Information is available at amanaartsguild.com.

Corey Nevitt, a blacksmith of more than 10 years experience, will be teach a blacksmithing class at the Tinsmith shop in West Amana Dec. 2 and 3. Space is limited. Cost is $200 per person. Sign up at amanaartsguild. com.

Sunday, Dec. 3

The annual community Christmas service, sponsored by the churches in the English Valleys area, begins at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Grace Brethren Church, 1897 294th St., two miles east of Millersburg. The service will feature musical specials, skits and readings provided by local congregations. Refreshments will be served following the service.

Wednesday, Dec. 6

RiverBend Bronze will perform handbell music at the Marengo Public Library, 235 E. Hilton St., at 12:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 8

Belle Plaine Library will host story hour at 9:30 a.m. The library is located at 125 W. Main St. in Belle Plaine.

Wednesday, Dec. 13

The Williamsburg Public Library will hold its early-out Lego Club for first and second grades from 1-2:45 p.m. Sign-up is required and sessions are limited to 20 participants. Contact the library to sign up.