The elves have been busy again in the village of Winside, planning their annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The planning for this event starts as soon as the park lights are lit and Santa flies away in his sleigh each year.
Just like the elves at the North Pole, they start thinking about how they can improve and make the celebration even better each year. This year they have added another fun activity to the glorious events planned for the community.
The Holiday Tour of Homes will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour all the homes, learn about the history and any renovations made (see separate article in today's Herald). The tour will also include the Winside FFA Open house from noon to 2 p.m.
The cost for the tour is $20 with proceeds going into the account for future Christmas lighting and activities in the village. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Thies Locker, and the Winside Farmers Co-Op. Tickets will also be sold on the day of the event at the Winside Auditorium.
Santa Claus will be arriving into town for the afternoon from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Winside Auditorium. Children may come and whisper their wishes into his ear and enjoy the goodies and cocoa. Warm blankets donated from the Gene Topp Memorial Car Show will be given to each child and they will also go home with a brand-new book donated by the Lied Winside Public Library.
The wonderful sound of Christmas will be heard all through the village as angelic voices sing along to the old-time favorite Christmas Carols. Hayrack rides will be provided for anyone to take a ride to see the lights and sing. They will also deliver Santa Claus to the park to light the magnificent lights.
A Holiday Dinner will be provided at the Wildcat Bar & Grill from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the day of the Christmas celebration. This year’s holiday dinner includes turkey, ham, roast beef, stuffing, corn casserole, green bean casserole, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, vegetable tray, fruit tray, meat and cheese tray and an assortment of desserts.
Christmas lighting in the village park will be at 7 p.m. and kick off the holiday season. Watch for many new additions including the Whoville village from “The Grinch.” The village was cut out and painted by Carter Krause and Katelyn Jaeger.
Besides the wonderful activities, Winside volunteers have been busy helping families to enjoy the holidays without the needed stress of wondering how to make their children’s wishes come true.
Winside Wishes is in its second year of spreading joy and has been such a great addition to the Christmas in Winside.
Christmas Wishes is based off of the Salvation Army Trees. Recipients are determined by sending out letters to families in the community submitted by the school and local churches. The children will fill out a wish list, and those items become wish tags and are placed on the tree located at The Winside Farmers Co-Op store. People in the community come to the store and can take a tag and help to fulfill the wish on the tag. Once the wish items have been purchased, they can be delivered to one of the drop boxes located at the Wayne County Bank, the Wildcat Bar and Grill and the Farmers Co-op store.
Monetary donations can also be made to the Winside Wishes account at the Wayne County Bank. Winside Wishes is also able to donate a pair of shoes and a $50 bundle of meat for each child. More information is available on the Winside Wishes Facebook page or contact Melissa Jeffries at winsidewishes@gmail.com.
Vicki Owen and her daughter, Rylynn, are in their sixth year of the “Secret Santa” for one local family to make their season brighter. Vicki said, “We have all had times of rough patches and if we can do a little to help a family, especially the kids, to enjoy the holidays.” A new family is chosen every year. The name of the family is not revealed to the public. Members of the community become involved and are given a list of items to donate. The presents are wrapped and given an alphabet letter for the children to open on Christmas day. Vicki encourages people to join in helping with Secret Santa. She said it is a wonderful feeling at the most wonderful time of the year.
None of the spectacular Christmas in the village of Winside would take place if it were not for all the volunteers who give their time and energy to make this a wonderful event. Board members include Abby Skokan, Emily Hansen, Nicole Owens, Nicole Lange, Brittney Lance, and Jaime Behmer.
Committee members encourage everyone to "Make sure to grab a friend and your family and join the village of Winside on this fabulous eventful night."
