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From Dec. 4 through Dec. 25, there is truly “No place like Creston for the holidays.” With a wide array of holiday activities to see and participate in, there is sure to be something for everyone.
Dec. 4
Beginning Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m., both the model railroads at the Depot will be open to the public. At 5 p.m., you can catch Santa and Mrs. Claus until 7 p.m. and get a cup of cider or hot chocolate and donut holes provided by the Friends of the Library while you are there. But don’t fill up on sweets, make sure you leave room for soup served from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Soup Supper at the Depot. This will be a free will donation with all proceeds going to the Crest Area Food Pantry.
Also beginning at 5 p.m. is the ASP funnel cakes at the ISSB Bank drive through Uptown, until 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Step outside the Depot for holiday magic at 6 p.m for the community tree lighting and listen to SWCC singers, The Creston Commuity Arts Center will be open from 6-7 p.m. as well.
At 7 p.m. is the eagerly anticipated annual Lighted Cristmas Parade through Uptown Creston. All floats and parade entries will be lit up in Christmas cheer. Following the parade, ISSB Bank will host a Jazz Open House at their Uptown location.
Creston Elks will be serving soups and desserts before and after the parade for a free will offering and R Realty will have free hot cocoa and cookies from 6-8 p.m. Both will be held at their locations on Elm Street.
Be sure to catch a performance or two of Crest Area Theatre’s holiday play, “One Christmas Eve at the Evergreen Mall.” Shows will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the SWCC Performing Arts Theatre.
Dec. 6
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, Uptown Creston will be the center of Merry Marketplace, an elevated shopping experience. This year Merry Marketplace extends a little further into the evening with a free showing from 4-5:45 p.m. of “Polar Express,” at the Strand Theatre thanks to sponsorships from Hometown Insurance and Realty, Travis Quarter Horses, ReLewis Refrigeration and Hanson Quarter Horses. After the movie, Cheyenne and Erin from the Creston News Adverttiser will join Santa and Mrs. Claus at the theatre to take free photos with Santa that will be emailed to families the following week.
Beyond shopping, Merry Marketplace will also have the sounds of the holiday season from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. as local youth will be caroling. There will also be free carriage rides, provided by Circle C Carriages, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. starting at the Spotlight School of Dance on Pine Street and going to the Roundhouse on Montgomery Street.
At 4:30 p.m., people are invited to the Creston High School for TUBACHRISTMAS, a performance to celebrate this holiday season and honor Creston’s very own tubist, William J. Bell.
This community performance invites low-brass musicians — tuba, sousaphone, trombone, baritone and euphonium players — of all ages and experience levels to come together for an afternoon of festive music-making. If interested, registration begins at 1:30 p.m.
In the spirit of giving, admission for audience members is a non-perishable donation to support the Creston Community High School Student Pantry, helping local students and families during the holiday season.
The concert will be conducted by Zoe Meyer, Creston Community Middle School band director. A special invitation is extended to local band alumni, regional musicians and families looking to enjoy a joyful, uniquely heartwarming holiday tradition.
See Santa
There will be additional opportunities to see Santa for those who miss it this weekend.
Santa will be at the Historical Village at McKinley Park on Sunday Dec. 7 from 5-7 p.m.
He will be back to town Dec. 13 at the Depot, sponsored by the Creston Animal Rescue Effort from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. C.A.R.E. will have their back sale that day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.