Christmas kicks-off in Kalona

Reindeers graze outside the Kalona Public Library. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Santa meets with two eager children as he walks into festivities in Kalona (Kalen McCain/The Union)

Hudson Savage, 2-year-old from Cedar Rapids, excitedly waits for his cookie to emerge from Santa’s Magic Bakery. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Kenda Shqair paints a candy cane on 8-year-old Charly Teboskhorst at the Kalona Christmas Market, Saturday. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Guests voted for their favorite themed Christmas trees at the Kalona Historical Village Christmas Tree Walk. One to One Pharmacy displayed a tree celverly decorated with prescription bottles, medicine packages, and vitamins. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

Grace Tully shows the an inquisitive young guest how to weave on a loom. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)

KALONA—Despite cold winter temperatures, crowds gathered for Christmas in Kalona Saturday.

Local merchants filled children’s stockings with sweet Christmas gifts, campfires lined the streets, and Christmas music filled the air.

Kalona Chocolate factory gave downtown visitors steamy cups of creamy hot chocolate as they enjoyed the event.

When attendees got too chilly, they took a break at the Kalona Christmas Market inside the YMCA. Inside, they enjoyed treats, face painting, cookie decorating, ornament making, and even visiting with Santa.

Mid-Prairie Palestinian exchange student Kenda Shqair enjoyed painting holiday themed pictures at the market.

“I love volunteering here,” Shqair said.

Pleasantview Home independent living residents made many dozens of cookies for a cookie walk fundraiser at the YMCA. Guests made donations for containers and fill them with as many varied holiday treats as they could hold.

Families also kept warm with Kalona Public Library’s showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” featuring Jim Carey. The sound of opening cookie containers mixed with laughter as they enjoyed the holiday film.

As the sky began to dim and Christmas lights began to fill the little town with a warm glow, events shifted to the Kalona Historical Village.

Fiber artist Grace Tully moved from the market at the YMCA to the Historical Village where she and Rosemary Fisher educated visitors to their newly heated loom building.

Tully and Fisher contentedly spun wool roving into yarn as they explained spinning, knitting, crocheting, and weaving.

If you’re not a white sheep, you’re a black sheep,” Tully explained about the type of wool manufacturers will purchase.

Tully took the time to show one guest how to use a small loom. She then allowed the guest and their child to take turns weaving the thread.

As guests entered the warm welcome center, Sue Curtis welcomed them with information on the Christmas Tree Walk and gifts of either of fidget or a treat for stocking-carrying children.

Live Christmas music filled the welcome center.

“You can sing along,” Mid-Prairie Home School Teacher Sheila Raim invited the audience as Home School Assistance Program students performed Christmas Carols on violins.

Horse-drawn carriage rides carried jovial groups between Kalona Brewing Company and the Village throughout the evening.

An entry from the Kalona Historical Village took best entry in the first ever lighted golf-cart parade run from downtown to the Village.

The evening wrapped with the optimist club giving away sleds to two lucky children.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com