T-R FILE PHOTO The popular, family-friendly downtown Holiday Stroll will return this year from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on November 23. Now in its 28th year, the theme is “Deck the Halls: A Vintage Christmas in the Historic District.”

The popular, family-friendly downtown Holiday Stroll will return this year from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 23. Now in its 28th year, the theme is “Deck the Halls: A Vintage Christmas in the Historic District.”

Mother/daughter team Debra Hippler and Alushia Fitzgerald are again chairing the event. Their downtown business, Staging 2 Sell It, sustained damage in the July 2018 tornado along with surrounding entities.

“We usually start planning in July and this month is when we’re really starting to reach out to people and get donation letters out, that way everything isn’t rushed,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald said the goal is to bring back the parade down Main Street, which was canceled last year because of tornado debris and construction.

“We should be able to run the parade, but maybe shift how far it can go down Main Street. It just depends on what (construction) is going on,” she said.

The event is an opportunity for downtown businesses to show off their wares and services, often running special deals and giving out free samples. The window display competition returns this year for all interested businesses.

The tree festival display will continue at the Orpheum Theater. Kids’ activities, food vendors and live entertainment are all in the works. Fitzgerald said she would like to recruit carolers who could dress in old time costumes. The planners are looking for a place in which to set up Santa’s workshop.

“All the buildings we would have put him in before are damaged or destroyed,” Fitzgerald said.

Carriage rides have been confirmed but the route is still to be determined.

“With everything going on with the new plans for the downtown area — trying to restore the storefronts back to how they used to look — we thought a vintage theme to tie in would be fun,” Fitzgerald said.

City Administrator Jessica Kinser said a component of the Downtown Master Plan is making sure annual events remain on the docket.

“One of the things the Downtown Master Plan recommended was having consistent events and keeping the Holiday Stroll is having some consistency,” Kinser said.

The event is sponsored by the Marshalltown Central Business District, with the help of sponsors and donors.

“We are always looking for volunteers, and spaces to hold events will be a challenge this year,” Fitzgerald said.

For more information, Fitzgerald may be reached at 641-750-7797 or alushia@staging2sellit.com.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com