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CONRAD — Come “Home for the Holidays” this Saturday as the town of Conrad celebrates this special time of year with a mix of food, crafts, horse-drawn carriage rides, a tree lighting, open houses, a chance to meet St. Nick, and more.

Sponsored by Conrad Chamber-Main Street, festivities kick off with a pancake breakfast at the fire station, sponsored by BCERT (Beaman Conrad Emergency Response Team), from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. It will be free will donation.

The Oh What Fun Craft Show is slated for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the BCLUW High School.

“We will have a gym full of vendors — primarily local artisans showcasing their talents: stuffed bears, home goods, jewelry, goat milk soap, honey, woodworking, etc. There will also be a Scentsy and Avon representative and homemade chocolate,” said coordinator Jami Willett. “It is basically lots of homemade unique products. There is also a branded hat design booth — where they use a wood burner to make designs on the felt hats.”

Due to construction, attendees should come in via the south door, from the parking lot. Willett said the parking area is close to Oakview Nursing Home, and people are welcome to park at the school and walk down to the nursing home for its Christmas Bazaar, which will go from 9 a.m. to noon.

Warm up then head back out to attend the dinner at the Legion by the Women’s Auxiliary, which will run 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The menu will consist of chili and potato soup, hot dogs/chili dogs, soft pretzels with cheese or cinnamon sugar. The group is always looking for additional volunteers and members.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive downtown around 4:50 p.m. and settle in at the Farmer’s Daughter Photography where children can get their pictures taken and receive snacks, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional events and activities that will span 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. include: writing letters to Santa at GNB Bank; holiday activities at the Conrad Public Library including Festival of Trees; horse-drawn carriage rides sponsored by MidWestOne Bank and Nutrien Ag Solutions; cookie decorating at Conrad Chiropractor; reindeer food activity at Shear Bliss (to take home to feed the reindeer on Christmas Eve); snowman soup activity at Conrad Coffee Cup; several open houses including Hen & Chicks, Hangloose Nutrition, Black Dirt Blooms and Hutch Screen Printing & Embroidery. Hutch is closing the doors at the end of the year, and is hosting a large going out of business sale.

“We’re excited to see what’s going to go in there. I know who the new owners are. I’m excited to see what they’re going to do with it,” said Conrad Chamber-Main Street Executive Director Heather Wilson.

Wilson, who co-owns the Conrad Coffee Cup with husband Julian, described the snowman soup as “glorified hot chocolate” and it is free of charge.

“Julian and the staff will be down there. I’m going to be bee bopping all around. Before I blink, Christmas in Conrad is over,” she added.

Tree lighting is set for 5:15 p.m. at Dorothy King Park, led by Wilson and Conrad Mayor Jeff Martin.

“We have all new energy efficient LED Christmas pole lighting going down Main Street and our Center Street Bridge. We’re going to start our new lighting project thanks to Alliant and our Chamber-Main Street members,” Wilson said.

A Snowball Drop for kids will happen at 5:30 p.m., followed by one for adults (age 14 and up) at 6 p.m., sponsored by Blue Construction. The snowballs are ping pong balls, which will be dropped in the middle of Main Street. Wilson explained everyone is allowed one ping pong ball.

“Everyone rushes around and grabs them, and then they bring their ball to the old fire station around the corner, and we have all the gifts ready,” she said. “We give out 100 gifts for the kids and 100 gifts for the adults. Most of the stuff for adults is from local businesses, things that are donated. But we spend the money to go out and buy presents within about a $5 range and under for the kids.”

The Festival of Trees (and wreaths) will be displayed at the library from December 6 through January 5. Tree set up is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on December 5, and tear down from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on January 6. Trees must be tabletop size and not bigger than three feet wide and five feet tall.

“Typically, it was just taken down the following Monday, and it kind of discouraged a few businesses, organizations and clubs to put one up, since it was a one day kind of special, so now we’re running a whole month-long thing to keep the spirit of Christmas going through the holidays. We’ve got a lot more people signing up,” Wilson said.

The trees and wreaths will not be available for sale.

There is a shop small giveaway going on in Conrad, which spans November 15 through December 13. If you spend $25 or more at any participating businesses, you will be entered into a drawing to win several prizes.

For more information, contact Conrad Chamber-Main Street at 641-366-2108 and cmspd@heartofiowa.net