BRODHEAD - Brodhead's Christmas Past Gathering event is set for Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3 in downtown Brodhead.
The event will begin on Friday at 3:45 p.m. with the lighting of the luminarias in the downtown business district. Stores will be open until 7 p.m. and offer Christmas specials.
Santa Claus will arrive by carriage at the Java House around 3:45 p.m., and photos with Santa will be taken at the Java House from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at no charge, sponsored by the Sugar River Bank-Brodhead.
Activities are for children 3 to 12 years old and will be held at City Hall from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Activities include cookie decorating, tattoos and activity pages, sponsored by the Brodhead Optimist Club. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Kettle corn will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. in front of the Bank of Brodhead. It will be for sale at the corner of 1st Center Avenue and E. Exchange Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Live Christmas scenes will be in the windows of participating businesses from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. This is a new event for 2011.
Carriage rides are available from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and will go around the downtown area at no charge with pick-up at City Hall.
The Photograph Memorial Christmas Tree, which will be on display in the City Hall foyer, will be decorated with poinsettias from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The decorated pets and the Cindy Lou Who contestants will be judged at the Senior Center at 6 p.m. Friday. The three top winners of each category will be awarded prizes. The pet prizes will be sponsored by the Brodhead Veterinary Clinic.
The lighted parade will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who contest participants, and pets dressed in Christmas outfits and decor. The parade route will begin at the United Methodist Church and will travel south on 1st Center Avenue, then turn left at E. Exchange Street, then turn right on E. Second Avenue, ending at the Veterans Park area. The parade will be held regardless of weather conditions. After the parade, the Decatur Lake Golf Course will be open for sledding.
Patrons can buy a $1 chance to win various "White Gift" baskets offered by participating Brodhead businesses. Tickets are $1 or 6 chances for $5. The winners will be drawn Saturday, Dec. 3 at each business. All money collected will be donated to Brodhead's White Gift.
Saturday will begin with the children's Breakfast with Santa at Billy's Sand Trap at the Decatur Lake Golf Course from 9 to 11 a.m. Sledding will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon, if weather permits. Children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own sledding equipment. The event is sponsored by the Brodhead Jaycees.
Another new event will be the Christmas Cookie Exchange at the Bank of Brodhead Courtesy Room. Those interested can bring cookies, in dozens, and can take home the same amount of cookies.
Photos of pets will be taken by Kaitlyn Simpson at the Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A free-will offering will be collected for this fundraiser and a portion of the proceeds will benefit purchasing vests to protect police dogs.
Starting at 10 a.m., there will be various Christmas performances by local groups at City Hall.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. pre-ordered poinsettias can be picked up at City Hall.
The Christmas Home Tours will begin at 1 p.m. Friday and go to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Admission is $3 at the door or can be pre-purchased at the Covered Bridge Gift Cottage and Framing, Pinnow Pharmacy, Twice Is Nice, Bank of Brodhead, Harvest Moon and Sugar River Bank.
Starting Dec. 1, a display of "Christmas Past Collection" display will be held the whole month of December at the Brodhead Memorial Public Library. On display are items of Christmas Past, including antique Christmas ornaments, toys and Christmas-themed Golden Books.
More information is available by calling the Chamber of Commerce at (608) 897-8411.
The event will begin on Friday at 3:45 p.m. with the lighting of the luminarias in the downtown business district. Stores will be open until 7 p.m. and offer Christmas specials.
Santa Claus will arrive by carriage at the Java House around 3:45 p.m., and photos with Santa will be taken at the Java House from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at no charge, sponsored by the Sugar River Bank-Brodhead.
Activities are for children 3 to 12 years old and will be held at City Hall from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Activities include cookie decorating, tattoos and activity pages, sponsored by the Brodhead Optimist Club. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Kettle corn will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. in front of the Bank of Brodhead. It will be for sale at the corner of 1st Center Avenue and E. Exchange Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Live Christmas scenes will be in the windows of participating businesses from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. This is a new event for 2011.
Carriage rides are available from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and will go around the downtown area at no charge with pick-up at City Hall.
The Photograph Memorial Christmas Tree, which will be on display in the City Hall foyer, will be decorated with poinsettias from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The decorated pets and the Cindy Lou Who contestants will be judged at the Senior Center at 6 p.m. Friday. The three top winners of each category will be awarded prizes. The pet prizes will be sponsored by the Brodhead Veterinary Clinic.
The lighted parade will begin at 7 p.m. and will feature Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, Cindy Lou Who contest participants, and pets dressed in Christmas outfits and decor. The parade route will begin at the United Methodist Church and will travel south on 1st Center Avenue, then turn left at E. Exchange Street, then turn right on E. Second Avenue, ending at the Veterans Park area. The parade will be held regardless of weather conditions. After the parade, the Decatur Lake Golf Course will be open for sledding.
Patrons can buy a $1 chance to win various "White Gift" baskets offered by participating Brodhead businesses. Tickets are $1 or 6 chances for $5. The winners will be drawn Saturday, Dec. 3 at each business. All money collected will be donated to Brodhead's White Gift.
Saturday will begin with the children's Breakfast with Santa at Billy's Sand Trap at the Decatur Lake Golf Course from 9 to 11 a.m. Sledding will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon, if weather permits. Children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own sledding equipment. The event is sponsored by the Brodhead Jaycees.
Another new event will be the Christmas Cookie Exchange at the Bank of Brodhead Courtesy Room. Those interested can bring cookies, in dozens, and can take home the same amount of cookies.
Photos of pets will be taken by Kaitlyn Simpson at the Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A free-will offering will be collected for this fundraiser and a portion of the proceeds will benefit purchasing vests to protect police dogs.
Starting at 10 a.m., there will be various Christmas performances by local groups at City Hall.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. pre-ordered poinsettias can be picked up at City Hall.
The Christmas Home Tours will begin at 1 p.m. Friday and go to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Admission is $3 at the door or can be pre-purchased at the Covered Bridge Gift Cottage and Framing, Pinnow Pharmacy, Twice Is Nice, Bank of Brodhead, Harvest Moon and Sugar River Bank.
Starting Dec. 1, a display of "Christmas Past Collection" display will be held the whole month of December at the Brodhead Memorial Public Library. On display are items of Christmas Past, including antique Christmas ornaments, toys and Christmas-themed Golden Books.
More information is available by calling the Chamber of Commerce at (608) 897-8411.