T-R FILE PHOTO The annual Holiday Stroll will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17. This year’s theme is “Light up the Night.” Pictured is Suzanne Hargan and Santa at last year’s Santa’s Workshop.

For 27 years, the annual downtown Marshalltown Holiday Stroll has served as the official kickoff for the holiday season and as a way for people to gather for live entertainment, food and shopping.

The event, sponsored by the Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD), will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 17. This year’s theme is “Light up the Night.”

“We’re working with the city and county to have everything lit up,” MCBD Director Jenny Etter said.

Lighted garland will be woven around the chain link fence in front of the courthouse, facing Main Street.

The festivities will stretch from Third Avenue to Third Street along Main Street. Because of tornado damage, there will be some modifications. The evening parade, horse-drawn carriage rides and Tiny Tim Tree Festival have all been postponed until 2019. Most of the activities this year will be headquartered at Xtreme Dance, the Tallcorn, Van Gogh’s and various churches. Central Christian Church will host a free-will donation turkey noodle dinner. Santa’s Workshop, sponsored and organized by the Time-Republican’s marketing department, will be set up at Xtreme Dance. Businesses will be decorated for the season and offer extended hours.

The Binford House, 110 N. Second Ave., will have an open house during the stroll. Arlene Selby will be playing carols with members of the First Congregational Church singing carols, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The house will be decorated with trees and holiday décor and light refreshments will be served. New artifacts, including Jesse Binford’s desk, will be showcased for the first time.

The Historical Society of Marshall County will be hosting its first ever holiday market at the Mowry Irvine Mansion, 503 W. Main St., from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. There will be a $5 charge to get in and see the historic home decorated for the holidays and browse the wares of several local vendors.

The MCBD and the city are teaming up to ensure attendees stay safe walking near construction zones.

Again this year, the Holiday Stroll will be co-chaired by mother/daughter designers Debra Hippler and Alushia Fitzgerald of Staging 2 Sell It — a downtown business that also sustained serious tornado damage.

“It’s important for people to realize that the downtown is going to come back better than ever,” Hippler said. “We want everything to be colorful, bright and cheerful for the event.”

Donations of strands of lights are being accepted.

“I remember the first holiday stroll and several early strolls had candle-lit luminaries along the route of the parade,” attendee April Long said. “I believe one of the women’s civic groups provided them, placed them and lit them. It was simple and beautiful. I’d love to see that happen again.”

Julie Sterm said she has enjoyed a variety of aspects of past Holiday Strolls.

“The Bell Choir was always so special. The horses and of course the grandkids watching the ice carver and when the lights came on (are favorite memories),” she said.

For Robert Moore, a regular attender of the event, “getting out of the cold into warm-scented, apple-cidered, art-filled cheerful stores and seeing friends” are the things he looks forward to the most.

For questions about donations contact Hippler at 309-368-9920 and Fitzgerald at 641-750-7797. Etter may be reached at 641-844-2001 and director@marshalltownmainstreet.org.

Volunteers are needed. For more information, visit www.marshalltownmainstreet.org/holidaystroll

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

(641) 753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com