Christmas comes to Creston Historical Village

It’s a popular place for Creston’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

Now it is going to be used to celebrate another holiday.

Creston’s Historical Village within McKinley Park will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 to celebrate Christmas.

“That idea started this year with a group of people who had coffee at the library,” said Sharon Snodgrass, one of the contributors to the village. “When COVID happened, the library was close and they didn’t have anywhere to go.”

That coffee group eventually ended up in the village. Dick Anderson was one of those who attended. Discussions were about how the village could be used.

“They were brainstorming,” Snodgrass said. “They suggested we should be open for an evening.” That comment sparked the concept to do something for Christmas. “They even found a Santa.”

Creston’s Historical Village is an 1890s era village furnished with period items including a restored train caboose, schoolhouse, depot, blacksmith shop, church, barn and museum of Creston and Union County history. The caboose was recently renovated. Snodgrass said there are discussions of having a reception for the caboose in the spring.

Snodgrass said the plan is to have as many of the buildings open as possible using the society’s group of volunteers. She said Jon and Roxanne Carroll have helped place lights on many of the buildings. Hot chocolate, popcorn and cookies will be available. Santa Claus will be in the house.

Snodgrass said people have asked if the village will have a holiday tea, as was done a year ago. She said there are no plans to do that this year as they wanted to try another idea.

“The village is there,” she said. “We need to get people to get out there.”

Lights on the buildings will be on in the evenings through December.