TIMES-REPUBLICAN

GLADBROOK — The Gladbrook Commercial Club kicked off the holiday season for dozens of families on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in downtown Gladbrook by hosting the 28th annual Christmas tree lighting festivities coupled with the 20th annual Festival of Trees.

Despite the bone-chilling cold that evening – air temperatures hovered in the single digits while the wind chill was below zero amid brisk northwest winds – Santa Claus was greeted by a bustling line of children and their caregivers upon his arrival at 5:30 p.m. to the City Centre’s upper level. One of the first children to take a seat on Santa’s lap seemed a bit perplexed as to what they might like for Christmas. “I want candy,” the youngster eventually decided, to which Saint Nick joked, “Candy? We just went through Halloween!”

After taking their turn with Santa, children were given a ‘Santa Sack’ filled with goodies for snacking, including peanuts, candy, popcorn balls, and apples.

Beyond Santa’s stage, much of the upper level was brilliantly decked out with brightly lit Christmas trees all creatively and uniquely decorated by area businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals in line with the 2025 theme ‘Snow Much Fun.’ In addition to arranging the trees, members of the Commercial Club spent countless hours this year decorating the space with white and blue tissue snowflakes and twinkle lights, while the path through the Festival of Trees was marked with glowing paper lanterns and tulle. There was also a stunning, life-size “snowglobe” with a winter wonderland background for folks to snap family photos.

“I love it. It’s always so beautiful,” Erin Murty, GMG’s ag instructor, remarked while exploring the Festival of Trees that evening. GMG FFA hosts a display as part of the annual festival – a charming, rustic ‘tree’ Murty made from old barn wood sourced from by father-in-law. FFA students decorated the tree this year with homemade ornaments featuring their names and likenesses.

Due to blowing and drifting snow earlier that afternoon, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School carolers were unable to attend this year’s festivities as part of the district’s early dismissal policy. In an echo of last year, the cold temperatures also canceled the downtown horse-drawn wagon rides.

Commercial Club volunteers did manage to warm everyone up with free hot apple cider and hot dogs distributed inside the covered shelter east of Hometown Family Market. As folks mingled in and out of the cold between the shelter and City Centre, Olaf (aka Linda Reardon!) from the Disney film “Frozen” entertained young and not-so-young alike, passing out candy and holiday cheer.

Just prior to the tree lighting at 7:15 p.m., Olaf led the small but mighty crowd in several rounds of Christmas carols at the base of the still-dark tree positioned in the middle of Second Street out front of City Centre. After singing a final round of “Jingle Bells,” the crowd counted down from 10 and Darrell Paustian flipped the magic switch – lighting not only the tree but all the downtown holiday lights, including the new snowflakes hanging from the light poles. The snowflakes – five different designs – were purchased this past year by way of community donations. Mayor Trudi Scott told the newspaper the fundraising response for the snowflakes was “terrific,” enabling the City to purchase everything at once.

Following the tree lighting, children in attendance lined up to receive a prize by age group, while the Commercial Club’s Jeanne Paustian drew names from a bucket as part of the adult drawing for four (4) $25 Gladbrook Trade Dollars certificates; winners included April Mattingly, Duane Petty, Brett Thomsen, and Keya Thomsen.

For those who missed the festivities, the 20th annual Festival of Trees will be open in City Centre (319 Second St.) now through the end of the year during weekend theater hours.

The Gladbrook Commercial Club would like to thank the following sponsors for making the 28th annual tree lighting a rousing success:

-Anderson Funeral Home

-Bear’s Bulldozing Excavating and Tiling

-Bowman & Miller, P.C.

-Casey’s General Store

-First Interstate Bank

-Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary

-Gladbrook Corn Carnival

-Gladbrook Insurance Agency

-Gladbrook Lions Club

-Gladbrook Women’s Club

-Gladbrook Young Women

-Goos Implement

-Grundy County Memorial Hospital

-Hatch Grading & Contracting Inc.

-Hometown Family Market

-Lincoln Savings Bank

-Marquess & Hoyer Law Office P.C.

-Darrell and Jeanne Paustian

-Phillips Stafford Insurance Group-Tommy Wedmore

-Range Toys

-Sash Auction Co.

-Schmitz Construction Inc.

-Westbrook Acres