Community Christmas celebrations abound on Saturday

There is no doubt the Christmas season has arrived in Dodge County as community Christmas celebrations are planned for Saturday, Dec. 7, in Kasson, Mantorville, Hayfield and West Concord.
Kasson activities get under way at 9:45 a.m. with the Santa Parade. The parade is sponsored by Kasson-Mantorville Community Ed and will depart from the Kasson Fire Hall and roll down Main Street and end at the Colonial Clock Shop.
Santa’s helpers will be along the way collecting donations for United Way. Santa will be at the Clock Shop at the conclusion of the parade.
There will be a variety of activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. including Santa photos, letters, live reindeer, contests, giveaways, crafts, games, cookie decorating, Yeti’s Frosty Funland and more. The event is sponsored by the Kasson Chamber of Commerce.
Olde Fashioned Christmas in Mantorville gets an early start with a Candlelit Breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the County Seat Coffee House. From 9 a.m. to noon, the Mantorville Fire Department will be at Casey’s collecting Toys for Tots.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a Sip & Shop featuring multiple vendors at Creative Change Hair Studio. Also, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a Bloody Mary Bar and kid’s crafts at the Hubbell House. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Deb’s Crafty Cottage will be at Saloon 2 with Christmas items for sale plus warm drinks and treats.
Then it is time to visit with Santa, see Rookie the Clown, and participate in the Pickle Ornament Hunt at the Mantorville Opera House. Horse drawn carriage rides will be leaving from the Opera House from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be ornament making at the Mantorville Art Guild and house tours at the Mantorville Restoration House.
Chili, mac and cheese, hot dogs, bars and a kids treat bag will be available at the Mantorville Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. During those same hours there will be a food drive, cocoa and cider at Thrivent Financial. Santa’s elves will be at the Greek Survival House.
The Farmer’s Market opens at the Mantorville Welcome Center at 11 a.m.
There will also be Holiday Specials all day long at the Chocolate Shoppe, Hidden Pines, Finds on 5th, Memorabilia Antiques, Bronze and Co. and Mantorville Square.
Mantorville Theatre Company will be present “A Sherlock Carol” at the Opera House in the evening. Check their website or Facebook for details/reservations.
Hayfield has a full day of activities starting at 8 a.m. and continuing to noon with the Field Crest Bazaar at the Senior Center. Trinity Lutheran Church will also have a bazaar from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
From noon to 4 p.m. there will be Build a Bear and a Gaming Trailer at the Fire Hall. Santa will be at the Fire Hall from noon to 3 and there will also be ornament and cookie decorating and sleigh rides at the Fire Hall.
Burgers, chili and soup will be available at the Fire Hall from noon until it is gone.
Also beginning at noon there will be games and train rides downtown and food specials available at bars and restaurants.
There will be a wine tasting/bake sale for Alzheimer’s at Uncle Mony’s from 2 to 5 p.m. and family bingo from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the American Legion/Pub.
The Youth Dance will be downtown from 3 to 5 p.m. Also downtown will be the tree decorating contest at 4 p.m. and the Youth Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest at 4:30 p.m.
The lighted parade begins at 6 p.m. followed by the Christmas Tree Lighting on Center Ave. S., at 7 p.m. The day concludes at 10 p.m. with the Adult Ugly Sweater Contest at the American Legion/Pub.
Moving over to West Concord, the day begins with fresh homemade donuts at the American Legion from 7 to 11 a.m. and the Fire Department’s Toys for Tots collection at Centennial Park from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be breakfast at Wescon Lanes from 8 to 10:30 a.m., free coffee and door prizes at Casey’s General Store from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and door prizes and candy for the kids at Dollar General.
Stop by the Bell Tower Center from 9 to 11 a.m. for Coffee & Cocoa with the City Council, the Festival of Trees and a limited-edition Christmas ornament fundraiser for parks.
From 9 a.m. to noon you can also stop by to meet the Christmas Llamas.
At Heritage Bank there will be children’s vision checks by the Lions from 9 to 11 a.m. and Santa Claus, a coloring Contest and the Sharing Tree from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Christmas Marketplace will be open at the West Concord Historical Society from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with lunch available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Craft activities will be at the library at City Hall from 9 a.m. to noon as well as Cookies with the Cops. The silent auction will also be at the City Hall from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. West Concord Public Works will be putting on a program on Snowplow Safety.
A new event this year is Dancing with Mrs. Claus at BlazeBody Fitness.
Stop by Gochnauer Dairy Farms between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for Cookies & Crafts with the Cows.
The Muni Liquor Store will have Bloody Mary Specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wescon Lanes will have free bowling and lunch specials.
The second session of Festival of the Trees will be from 3 to 7 p.m.
The Christmas program at the Bell Tower Center begins at 5 p.m. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. there will be a free Christmas supper sponsored by the West Concord EDA. The day concludes with music by Main Street Entertainment from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Muni.