DELANO, MN – Delano Snowstormers will host a silent auction beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Delano American Legion. See the Center of Attention page in the Nov. 30 edition for more information.

MONTROSE, MN – Montrose Community Center, 200 Center Ave., will host Breakfast with Santa from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 1.

DELANO, MN – Delano American Legion Auxiliary Unit 377 will host Breakfast with Santa from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at 200 Babcock Blvd. Children will receive a gift. The cost is a food shelf donation. Contact brandichristensen21@gmail.com for more information.

DELANO, MN – Whether patrons are looking for gift ideas, food, beverages, or just entertainment, they can find what they’re looking for during Old-Fashioned Christmas Saturday, Dec. 1, in downtown Delano.

The festivities will begin with the Girl Scout Santa Shoppe from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Peter Church, 204 River St. N. Kids will be able to do their own shopping at the event, which will also feature a bake and craft sale for adults.

Girl Scouts will also host a Christmas tree walk from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Jerome, 129 Bridge Ave. E. After individuals vote on which tree is their favorite, the trees will be donated to Love INC-Heartland.

Several other features also kick off at 10 a.m.

All the details regarding the day will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at “Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas Holiday Central,” located at Delano City Hall/Delano Senior Center, 234 Second St. N.

City hall will also be hosting a variety of entertainment.

The Senior Center Choir will get things started at 10 a.m., followed by the Delano United Methodist Church Choir at 10:45 a.m., Sound Revolution at 11:45 a.m., the St. Maximilian Kolbe Choir at 12:30 p.m., a woodwind ensemble featuring students in grades seven through 12 at 1:30 p.m., Hillbilly Cadillac at 2:30 p.m., and the Delano Community Band at 3:30 p.m.

At Delano Public Library, children will have the opportunity to make their own Swedish Christmas ornaments from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The library will also have Swedish treats and host a book sale at that time, in addition to hosting harp music from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

More ethnic holiday treats – including Norwegian lefse, Polish pierogi, Mexican fried tacos, and Puerto Rican cookies – will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at The 221, located at 221 Second St. N.

Speaking of food, Fireman’s BBQ Food Truck will be serving from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. at “Central Town Square,” located at the corner of Second Street North and Bridge Avenue, and kids will be able to make s’mores from 2-4 p.m. at The 221.

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Big Woods Garden Club will be hosting a holiday flower bulb giveaway at city hall.

A number of children’s activities will begin at 10 a.m.

Kids will be able to participate in children’s holiday character hunt bingo, marking off spaces as they find some of the more than 20 characters, in hopes of winning a prize.

Love INC-Heartland, 318 Railroad Ave., will have Santa and Mrs. Claus on hand from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Delano Community Education, 140 Elm. Ave. E, will host the ECFE Teddy Bear Tea from 10-11:30 a.m. The ECFE Holiday Boutique will also take place there from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Patrons can also peruse the Delano Senior Center Hometown Boutique and Bake Sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Another shopping option will be available at the Delano Old-Fashioned Christmas Old World Market from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Central Town Square. Vendors will include Lupine Brewing, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church refreshment booth, Three Crows Coffee, and vendors selling hand-crafted arts. Minnesota Krampus, St. Nikolaus, the Christmas Train, will also be featured during the market. From 2-4 p.m., patrons will have the chance to take their photos with live reindeer.

Also downtown during the event, Detweiler Real Estate Group, 220 River St., will host free lantern making from 1-3 p.m.

The blessing of the keg, featuring Lupine Brewing Christmas ale aged in J. Carver apple brandy barrels, will take place at 3 p.m. at Central Town Square.

New in 2018 is the Deladazzle Parade. Lineup will begin at 4 p.m. at Delano Fire Station, with the parade processing around the block beginning at 4:30 p.m. All are welcome to participate, but the costumes, vehicle, or float must be illuminated in some way.

Also new in 2018 is the Snow Stomp Street Dance from 5-9 p.m. at Central Town Square. The 221 will serve as a warming house for the event from 7-9 p.m.

Old-Fashioned Christmas is made possible by support from Big Woods Garden Club, the City of Delano, Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture, Delano Community Band, Delano Cub Scouts, Delano Downtown Business Group, Delano Girl Scouts, Delano Public Schools, Delano Senior Center, Delano United Methodist Church, Early Childhood Family Education, Great River Regional Library, Love INC-Heartland, and St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish.

For more information, visit delanomnarts.org.

DELANO, MN – Delano-area residents will kick off the holiday season with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in Delano’s Riverfront Park on River Street near the Bridge Avenue intersection.

The lighting of the tree is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., with photo opps with Santa to follow.

The Delano Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Development Committee coordinates the event, which is celebrating its 12th year of kicking off the Christmas season in Delano. The event began as a way to bring the community together while promoting the downtown and what it has to offer, and the idea of a tree-lighting ceremony stems from what several larger cities have done.

This event will feature the ceremonial tree lighting, the arrival of Santa Claus in Delano, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a performance by Sound Revolution.

Representatives of the Delano Royalty Organization will be on-hand to meet and greet people. Mayor Dale Graunke will share a few words, along with a Delano pastor, leading up to the lighting of the tree.

Those attending are asked to bring a new or gently-used clean blanket or coat for Love INC-Heartland. Many industrial businesses also collect coats and blankets from their employees.

“The DACC always appreciates the support for Love INC-Heartland at this event, as we have had truckloads of coats and blankets that have been delivered to Love INC-Heartland in past years,” DACC Executive Director Ryan Gueningsman said. “We hope to surpass our expectations this year.”

The DACC also encourages attendees to visit Dave’s Town Club and/or Bridge House Coffee and Café before or after the tree lighting.

For more information on the Delano Christmas tree lighting, call (763) 972-6756, email dacc@delanochamber.com, visit www.delanochamber.com, and “like” the Delano Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.

Carriage ride sponsors are Jeanne Matter CPA, The Schaust Team/Coldwell Banker Burnet, Farmers State Bank of Hamel, Emagine Delano, Legacy of Delano, Randy’s Environmental Services, and Detweiler Real Estate Group.

DELANO, MN – All are welcome to partake in a free traditional turkey dinner at noon Thursday, Nov. 22, at the Delano American Legion, 240 Babcock Blvd. Call Joe Kittok at 763-221-6658 to help or reserve.