STATE CENTER — The State Center Promotions Committee wants to welcome all to the 23rd Annual Old-Fashioned Christmas on Main in State Center on Dec. 2.

The life-sized Nativity scene created by Jim and Nancy Figgins will be on display in the green space between Central State Bank and Gary’s Barbershop.

The 3rd Annual Christmas Cash Raffle will be held to raise funds for promotional events throughout the year. The prize is $500 cash, and tickets are available at Eckhardt Enterprises and Rose Creamrey. Buy a ticket at either location and, get taxes started or have a tasty treat from Emma’s new holiday menu. Volunteers will be selling tickets at various places on Dec. 2. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Drawing will be held that evening, need not be present to win.

A Festival of Tiny Trees Contest is being held at Gutekunst Public Library. Visit the library, pick up a tree, decorate it and return to the library by 7 pm. on Dec. 1. Be sure to stop in on Dec. 2 for the Open House and to vote for a favorite tree.

Central State Bank will host its annual Christmas Open House from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so stop by for a tasty treat. The bank would like everyone to enjoy the sweet sounds of Christmas by sponsoring the Brocal Chords, a musical group from Drake University. These young men will be caroling up and down Main Street from 6p.m. to 7 p.m.

This year organizers are enhancing Main Street with lighted Christmas trees from Victorian Pines, and snowflakes on store windows and lots of holiday décor.

The State Center Fire Department will be warming up patrons with a fire pit serving s’mores in front of the Fire Station.

Some local business put out quite a spread for the holidays. Stop by for refreshments, which include coffee, punch, cookies, pastries or candy at one of the many open houses.

Santa and Mrs. Clause are flying in for a special visit at Watson’s Historic Grocery Store. Santa will be ready for all the children’s lists, and his Elves and special helpers will be wandering the streets with goodies. Make sure you’re not on the “Naughty List.”

Denny Dostel will be on hand with his traditional trolley and will escort Santa to Main Street and then give rides for patrons of all ages.

Holiday Craft and Food vendors will be located at Mitchell’s West Marshall Chapel with holiday baked goods and crafts, opening at noon. The St. Joseph’s Catholic Church CCW ladies have a variety of cheeseballs for sale and will join the vendors at Mitchell’s.

A spaghetti dinner will be served by the First Presbyterian Church, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., located upstairs at city hall community room. The Sweet Adeline’s will sing at 5 p.m. and the mTunes Barbershop Quartet will start at 6 p.m. There is an elevator to the upper level.

The 2nd Annual Christmas Carnival hosted by the West Marshall Schools, will be held at newly renovated Hollsworth Building located at 116 W. Main. GNB Bank/Hunter Wilkening will be hosting a kid’s zone and Roxanna Bodie will be on hand to do some face painting. Stop by, warm up and play a game with the kids.

More information in the coming weeks will be posted on Facebook.