Alushia Fitzgerald, who serves on the Holiday Stroll Board, said the event will look a lot different this year.

“We are trying to be very COVID-conscience,” she said.

With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, masks and social distancing will be encouraged, but not necessarily required. There will also be less activities which draw large numbers of crowded people.

The carriage rides and the Holiday Stroll parade will not take place. Instead, there will be holiday window displays by numerous businesses on Main and State streets. Fitzgerald said a lot of businesses will be participating in the display, lighting up Marshalltown with some Christmas spirit.

contributed photo — The Festival of Trees will return for The annual Holiday Stroll. The event this year will be different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The majority of businesses who participated in the Stroll last year, are also doing it this year,” she said. “They may not be open, but they will be decorated. The ones that are open might have some food or drinks. There will be a lot of things for people to do when they walk in.”

The Christmas Craft Village and Tree Festival will be held at 214 E. Main St., and will be the only indoor feature. Fitzgerald said there will be indicators to remind people about social distancing.

“People can still vote for their favorite tree and there will be hand sanitizer at each station,” she said. “We are being very conscious about keeping people healthy.”

Right outside the festival and village building, there will be a Christmas lighting display.

At Staging 2 Sell It, Santa’s Workshop will make another appearance. However, children will not be able to sit on Santa’s lap this year. Kris Kringle, Mrs. Claus and an elf will be sitting in the window display areas and children can interact with them through the glass.

“A wireless microphone will allow Santa to talk to the kids,” Fitzgerald said. “Pictures will also be an option, just not on Santa’s lap. It will be very interactive.”

Children can also drop letters to Santa in a mailbox, which will be provided.

McGregors Furniture will have two Iowa Central Modular Railroad Train Displays in the windows. Marshalltown Central Business District will have ornament kits for children in the Hellberg’s Jewelers building. Each kit will be contained in a bag, so the children can take them home for some Christmas crafting fun.

New this year, there will be a special display by the Cartwright Farmers Market area on State Street. Appleberry Farms Food Truck will provide beverages and food in the parking lot by State Street Trading Company. Music will be played from the Kester Building at 119 E. Main St. 4-H members will provide hot chocolate kits at Black Tire Bike Company

Even though the Holiday Stroll will be different, Fitzgerald believes plenty of people will still attend.

“People will enjoy driving down Main Street and State Street and seeing the holiday decorations,” she said.

Board member Debra Hippler agreed that many people will attend.

“I feel a lot of people will come out of the woodworks because there is nothing else going on,” she said. “We need to find a way to bring people back together.”

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