Posted: 11/28/06
Start the holiday season in Caledonia
The first weekend of December will be one to get local residents in a holiday mood with lots of events to ring in the holiday season.
The festivities begin with the annual Christmas Parade at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, December 1. This yearís theme is ìWinter Wonderland.î The parade begins at Caledonia Care and Rehab and ends at Merchants Bank.
A limited amount of reserved seating will be available this year. Those with a need for indoor seating can contact Noel Brenza at 725-3983 regarding availability.
This year, there will be no parking on Main Street. The judgeís stand will be set up at the Semcac building, and there will be a food tent set up there as well.
Prior to the parade, the Rotary will be serving its traditional soup supper in the auditorium beginning at 4:45.
This year, the parade will be led by two of Santaís reindeer, and children will be able to see the reindeer up close in the city park on Friday after the parade until 10 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. Following the parade will be a sing-along in the city auditorium, and Santa will be hearing requests from children. The kids can have their photo taken with Santa for a donation.
Music will be provided by D.J. ìBenderî following the sing-along.
The Food and Beer Lodge will be open from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the basement of the auditorium.
The first lift-off for the Bluff and Valley Balloon Rally will be at 7:30 a.m. Saturday from the Houston County Airport. Another will be held at 2:30 that afternoon. A third launch is planned for Sunday at 7:30 a.m. (See related article for more information).
The Caledonia Lions Club is sponsoring several events throughout the weekend.
The annual Breakfast with Santa, typically the second Saturday of December, has been moved to the first weekend. It will be on Saturday in the city auditorium basement from 7-10 a.m.
At noon, the Lions will begin their Euchre tournament. A $5 entry fee is required, and a lunch will be available for a free-will donation.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a Santaís Workshop and Open House in the commons area of the high school. The event includes a rummage sale, face painting and other activities. Proceeds will be used for the CHS band/choir trip to New York City.
New this year is a ScrabbleÆ tournament which will be held at the Caledonia Area Elementary School cafeteria from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Snowmobile ìrelicsî will be on display on the street near the city park between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and a short distance away at the Caledonia Fire Station, there will be tours given starting at 10 and continuing until 1 p.m.
A colorful assortment of quilts will be on display in the social hall of Immanuel Lutheran Church, 419 East Grove, between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Food and Beer Lodge in the auditorium will open at 11 a.m. and remain open until midnight Saturday. At 3 p.m. Saturday, the ìBudî girls will be making an appearance there.
From 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., animals will compete in a sled-pulling contest in the city park. Please contact K-P Xpress for more information on this event.
Nick OíHeron has organized a bean bag tournament which will begin at 3 p.m. at the auditorium.
Legion Bingo will be held as usual in the auditorium basement at 7 p.m. Saturday.
On Saturday evening, a dance will be held in the city auditorium featuring ìSimon Sezz.î Admission is free for those wearing a button, or $2.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com