Holiday season activities begin
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Local businesses and organizations are preparing for the upcoming holiday season, offering a multitude of ways to connect with others and enjoy the joy of the season.
Cheers on Broadway
Diagonal Community Development Corporation is preparing for their annual Cheers on Broadway celebration Friday, November 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Two food trucks, Cowboy Papas and All Seasons Sweets & Eats, will also be set up and serving food during the evening.
New, unwrapped toys are being accepted that evening for the Diagonal HotSpots toy drive.
Register in-person at Diagonal Building Products during regular business hours. Cash or check are being accepted for the $25 registration fee, which includes beverage samples with recipe cards and a commemorative cup. You can register online for this fundraising event:
www.diagonalia.com/events
Holiday Shop Hop
Local Mount Ayr Chamber businesses are hosting Ladies Night Out on Thursday, December 5 from 4-7 p.m.
Participating local businesses will be serving tasty treats and offering gift card drawings.
Breakfast at the Firehall
The Mount Ayr Embers will be serving breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, December 7. They will be serving eggs, sausage, french toast sticks, biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls and other breakfast items with a freewill donation collected.
Vocal Concert
Local musical group “Simply Voices” is hosting a concert at the Mount Ayr First United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 7.
Titled “Repeat the Sounding Joy,” the vocal group will be singing some of their favorite songs.
The community is invited to attend and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. A freewill offering will be collected.
Dinner and Live Nativity
The Mount Ayr First Christian Church will be hosting a baked potato bar and chili supper from 5 – 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 7.
A live children’s nativity scene will also be performed indoors at 5 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.
The ACTS youth group will also be raising funds by selling hot chocolate and cookie plates outside the church between 6 – 7 p.m.
Lighted Parade
The Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce is preparing to bring the nostalgia of the past back to the town square as part of this year’s Christmas in the Ayr celebration.
A lighted Christmas parade invites local participants to create a float based on a classic Christmas movie and line up at the Depot Museum at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 7.
The “Christmas of Yesteryears” Parade will proceed around the Mount Ayr square beginning at 6 p.m. Due to safety, candy will not be thrown during the parade. Parade prizes will be awarded including a “Best of Show Traveling Trophy” that goes to a business or organization. Individuals, family and friends that decorate a float will compete for $50 in Mount Ayr Money that can be redeemed with any Chamber Member business.
The Mount Ayr Public Library will be open, providing an indoor view of the parade and tree lighting ceremony, as well as some holiday goodies.
Following the parade, Ringgold Outdoor Alliance will light the community Christmas tree in front of the Skelly Station on the square at 6:30 p.m. The group will also be providing music throughout the evening.
Kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Ringgold County Courthouse lobby and non-perishable food items can be brought and donated as part of a community food drive.
An assortment of decorated Christmas trees will also be on display inside the courthouse. The Mount Ayr Community High School band will be performing Christmas music in the courthouse assembly room on the first floor.
Holiday Lights in the Park
The drive through holiday lights displays at Poe Hollow Park (2434 State Hwy 2 – Mount Ayr) will be open from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. the first three weekends in December.
Ringgold County Conservation staff are preparing to get the seventh annual event underway on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Visitors can also view the lighted displays December 13 and 14, and the following weekend, December 20 and 21.
At least 20 lighted holiday displays sponsored by local area businesses and organizations will delight guests. The cost to drive through the winter wonderland is $10 per vehicle.
Santa is also making a return visit to the Dragoon Trace Nature Center on Saturday, December 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
For more information about holiday lights at Poe Hollow Park, call the Ringgold County Conservation office at 641-464-2787 or email ringgoldccb@ringgoldcounty.us.
Unspeakable Joy Musical
A community choir performance of “Unspeakable Joy,” a Christmas musical, will take place on Sunday, December 15, 2 p.m., at Wishard Chapel Church. The community is invited to enjoy this musical that blends diverse styles, delivering a mix of lively tunes, tender manger scenes, and dramatic storytelling to inspire awe and fill hearts with overflowing joy. In a world filled with challenges, “Unspeakable Joy” offers a message of hope and healing through the joy of Christmas.
