HoCelebrate the season in these Eastern Iowa Christmas towns

OXFORD — After last year’s pandemic pause, Oxford is again rolling out the white carpet for Light Up Oxford from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3.

The event features a horse-drawn wagon down Augusta Avenue at 4 p.m., carriage rides, fire pits, food and games, and decorated trees.

The official kickoff with Santa and the tree-lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m. at the fire department.

Volunteers of all ages from across the community are pitching in to help the core group of planners from the business district, said Bethany Horning of Oxford, one of the organizers.

She’s happy to see the all-hands-on-deck to help set up luminarias and direct traffic. And Little League and 4-H Club members will gather at the fire pits to offer up hot chocolate, hot cider and s’mores by freewill donation.

“I’m super excited, but I’ll be glad to sleep in Saturday morning when it’s all done,” Horning said with a laugh.

Here’s how other towns around the Corridor are celebrating, and see more holiday happenings in our Things To Do section.

Amana

Prelude to Christmas: Friday to Sunday, Dec. 3 to 5. Tannenbaum Forest continues in the Festhalle Barn in Amana, as well as shopping and events throughout the historic colonies. This weekend’s specials include the Holiday Bazaar, noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Amana Church, 622 45th Ave., Amana, and the Cookie Walk, also at the church, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; register for an entry time at 9 a.m. outside the west entrance; amanacolonies.com/things-to-do/festivals/prelude-to-christmas/

Cedar Rapids

Deck the District: Friday to Sunday, New Bohemia, Third Street SE and Czech Village, 16th Avenue SW. Svaty Mikulas Celebration and Tree Lighting, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Kosek Bandstand in Czech Village; event schedule at tourismcedarrapids.com/events-calendar/deck-the-district5/

Nativity Celebration: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4150 Blue Jay Dr. NE. Community members exhibit their Nativity sets created by artists from around the world; includes the restored Armstrong-Smulekoff Nativity. Local choirs and instrumental groups perform Christmas music. Free and open to the public. Donations of canned/dry food items or full-sized, unopened personal care items accepted for the Catherine McAuley Center; crnativity.info/

Nature’s Noel: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Indian Creek Nature Center’s Amazing Space, 5300 Otis Rd. SE. Fresh-cut evergreen wreaths, centerpieces, kissing balls, swags and yule logs; artisan gifts, food and more; masks required; indiancreeknaturecenter.org/category/events/

Old World Christmas Market: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW. Inspired by traditional European markets, featuring local handcrafted items, food, entertainment and activities for all ages; free admission; masks requested; ncsml.org/ncsml-events/old-world-christmas-market/

A Very Cherry Holiday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Cherry Building, 329 10th Ave. Open house and studio tours on all three floors, Friends of the Library book sale, Kevin the Santa 10 a.m. to noon; facebook.com/TheCherryBuilding/

Downtown Tree Lighting: 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Greene Square, 400 Fourth Ave. SE. Family crafts at Cedar Rapids Public Library, 4 to 5 p.m.; food trucks, 4 to 6 p.m.; Scavenger Hunt, Reindeer Games, story time, holiday music in the park 4 to 5:15 p.m.; tree lighting, 5:30 p.m.; tourismcedarrapids.com/events-calendar/2021-holiday-tree-lighting/

Eastern Iowa Figure Skating Club: “Rainbow Flower,” a fairy tale on ice; 1 p.m. Sunday, ImOn Ice Arena, 1100 Rockford Rd. SW. Featuring local skaters ages 6 to 26, followed by individual skaters’ exhibitions. Admission: free, donations suggested for Scott Hamilton Cancer Research Fund; masks required.

Coralville

Holiday Thieves Market: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Hyatt Regency, 300 E. Ninth St. Shop for fine arts in 63 booths during this 50-year holiday tradition; summerofthearts.org/sota-events/holiday-thieves-market/

Aisle of Lights: 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12. Residents and businesses throughout Coralville are invited to light luminarias on their sidewalks. The city will light luminarias on Fifth Street, First Avenue to S.T. Morrison Park; 12th Avenue, Highway 6 to Oakdale Boulevard; and Holiday Road, First to 12th avenues; coralville.org/316/Aisle-of-Lights

Ely

Ely Winterfest: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 11, Dows Street downtown. With free horse-drawn sleigh rides 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dan & Debbie’s Creamery, face painting, crafting, cookies and milk, photos, storytime with Anna and Elsa, craft/vendor fair, one-mile festive fun run and more; facebook.com/ElyWinterfest

Iowa City

Downtown District: Santa Saturdays through Dec. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at FilmScene at the Chauncey, 404 E. College St.; free tractor wagon rides 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 18, at Hills Bank & Trust, corner of Washington and Clinton streets; Pop-Up Market through Dec. 23; hunt for more than 50 elves hiding in shops and restaurants; retail open house 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4; more activities at downtowniowacity.com/events/tis-the-season/

Marion

Christmas in the Park & Peppermint Walk: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, City Square Park and surrounding businesses. Wave parade with Santa and Mrs. Claus at 4 p.m., stopping at Christ Community Church, 3000 Alburnett Rd., Summit Pointe Senior Living, 3505 English Glen Ave., and Ascension Lutheran Church, 2210 Grand Ave., before arriving at the park at 5 p.m. to light the Peace Tree. Also, visit Santa, 5:30 to 8 p.m.; donations of new hats, mittens, socks and blankets accepted at the caboose; singalong, 6 p.m.; popcorn and cocoa; snowman ornament craft at the Marion Public Library. marioncc.org/christmas2021.html

Robins

Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa: 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Robins Square Court. Caroling starting at 4:45 p.m. at Robins Square Clock Tower; Santa arrives by firetruck at 5 p.m. for tree lighting; cookies and apple juice Hoppe Safety Center, 225 S. Second St.; robinscivicclub.com/christmas-tree-lighting.html

West Branch

Christmas Past: Friday and Saturday, Main Street area. Marking the event’s 100th anniversary with horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides 5 to 8 p.m.; bonfires and treats; crafts; silent auction; Festival of Trees at 127 W. Main St.; tree lighting 5 p.m. Friday at Village Green; farmers market 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Town Hall, 113 N. First St.; soup supper and live Nativity, 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, United Methodist Church, 203 N. Downey St.; music by Dogs on Skis 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Brick Arch Winery, 116 W. Main St.; mainstreetwestbranch.org/christmaspast

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