An Old-Fashioned Christmas in downtown Delano Saturday, Dec. 5 will provide many opportunities for holiday shopping.
The event, sponsored by the Delano Area Council for Art and Culture, will highlight 19 artists exhibiting and selling their unique and handcrafted objects.
Shoppers can start at 9 a.m. in the Delano City Hall, receiving their passport and schedule of times for all events and the locations of the artists.
Artists will be exhibiting in downtown businesses for an Art Walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Participants completing the Art Walk and having their passports stamped at each location can return to city hall and submit their name to be eligible for a drawing.
The winning name will receive a painting by artist Gino Hollander, a self-taught abstract expressionist. He is also a successful film maker. His paintings and drawings have been exhibited and sold in New York and Europe. He currently lives with his family in Colorado.
Randy Szarzynski is a graphic designer, stone carver, and lettering artist. He also paints new wall signs, and refurbishes faded wall signs. He recently worked with an Eagle Scout candidate to refurbish the Occident Flour and Delano Co-op signs downtown.
Zoran Mojsilov builds massive stone sculptures held together with thin steel rods. He will be exhibiting sketches or plans for his public art commissions of stone.
Both of these artists are working on the Delano monument planned for the Bridge Avenue entrance to Delano.
Four artists working in fiber or wood will be demonstrating their art in the Heritage Center across from city hall.
The Rivertown Boutique will feature holiday craft items. Children can shop for gifts for their families at the Girl Scout Secret Santa Shoppe. Seniors will also be displaying crafts and will have baked goods for sale at the Senior Center.
There will be opportunities for donating gifts, as well. The Stahlke Bus, collecting for Toys for Tots, will be parked at city hall. New gifts for children of all ages will be accepted.
Also at city hall, families can make or sign holiday cards for deployed or wounded sevice men and women. Cards, paper, and markers will be provided. Donations will be accepted for postage. The Delano Troop Group sponsors this activity, and will send the cards to designated personnel.
This activity is made possible by a grant from the Central Minnesota Arts Board through funding provided by the Minnesota State Legislature. Other support was provided by Delano downtown business and other Delano organizations.