Holiday festivities are in no short supply in Marshalltown during the month of December.

April Long, the director of the Marshalltown Senior Citizens Center, said they are hosting a Holiday Craft Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, and it is their biggest holiday bazaar to date.

“We are in a better location and people know it,” Long said. “They have easier access. I have also been trying to do more marketing, to let more people know about the event.”

As a result of the location and the effort, more vendors are participating in the bazaar. Long said this year there are 20, with products and services ranging from photography to cross-stitch, from hand-crafted candles and jewelry to quilts.

“We even have vendors from Des Moines and Ames coming here,” Long said. “We are very excited. I think our new location is awesome.”

The much-touted location of the Marshalltown Senior Citizens Center is the Fisher Community Center at 709 S. Center St.

Also located in the Fisher Community Center is the Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce and Director Lynn Olberding who said the Chamber has a philosophy of “Think local first.”

She said Chamber employees urge people who want a product or service to look for it in Marshalltown first.

“Please support your local businesses and services this holiday season,” Olberding said.

After the 2018 tornado, she said there has been a resurgence of support for local business, especially with Saturday’s Holiday Stroll, and is hoping the trend will continue.

Some free holiday-themed events scheduled in Marshalltown include:

• Miller Band Concert, 125 S. 11th St.: 7 p.m., Dec. 3.

• Family Christmas Movie Nights at First Friends Church of Marshalltown, 2409 S. Sixth St. Popcorn, cookies and hot chocolate are available.: 6:30 p.m., Dec. 6, “Miracle on 34th Street;” Dec. 13, “A Christmas Carol;” and Dec. 20, “The Grinch.”

• Winter Holiday Craft Show, Central Iowa Fairgrounds, 1308 E. Olive St. Free hot apple cider, a variety of hand-crafted items and Christmas gifts.: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 7.

• Holiday Bliss Spectacular Vendor and Craft Show, Best Western Regency Inn, 3303 S. Center St.: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 7.

• Highlights of Messiah, First United Methodist Church, 202 W. Main St. Choruses from “Messiah” will be performed with a brass quintet and a pipe organ. 1:30 p.m., Dec. 8.

• Marshalltown High School holiday concert, 1602 S. Second Ave.: 3 p.m., Dec. 8.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.