Hillsboro will celebrate Christmas tomorrow with the arrival of Santa Claus, downtown hayrides, $300 to be given away and its annual Parade of Lights.
Other events sandwiched between the opening of the FBLA Christmas Store in the morning and nightfall’s lighted parade will be carolers singing all around downtown, free hot dogs served over the dinner hour and the drawings for two giant Christmas packages in the middle of the afternoon.
“Fun stuff for everyone,” said Steph Olsen, local businesswoman.
The Hillsboro Business Association-coordinated event, titled Hometown Christmas, is focused again this year on the family, Olsen explains.
Kids can shop at the FBLA Christmas Store in the morning, enjoy hot dogs, compliments of HBA at noon, see Santa early in the afternoon and ride behind Hank Geray’s Belgian horses from 2 to 4 tomorrow (Saturday).
“The many young couples we have in town, all with children, have come to expect family-oriented events from HBA. Christmas is no different,” Olsen explained.
Actually, she said, Christmas might be the most fun.
“The spirit of Christmas is sure apparent, anyway.”
It’s just a fun day to be in Hillsboro, she added.
FBLA store opening
in the morning
For years, students in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program at Hillsboro High School have assisted the children of Hillsboro with their Christmas shopping.
The students will be helping again at this year’s Christmas Store, open from 10 to noon at the Main Street Community Center. Moderately-priced presents are wrapped while the kids wait.
It’s great fun for the kids and the students, suggested Connie Bertsch, HBA member who has been involved in the annual HBA celebration of Christmas for more than 10 years.
“The FBLA store is still popular with kids and families.”
Ryan Nielsen is the FBLA faculty member at Hillsboro High School. FBLA members Allison Bertsch and Jenessa Duval attended the HBA meeting Wednesday at the community center.
Mothers with children waiting to see Santa can shop the Generation II’s bake sale tomorrow morning.
This is the second year for the 4-H Christmas bake sale.
Hot Dog Christmas promised
Judging from last year’s success story and the popularity of hot dogs in the winter, Neil Nelson, HBA president, is promising another “Hot Dog Christmas” tomorrow at the community center.
HBA members will be serving the hot dogs, chips and pop from noon to 1 p.m.
“Everybody loves hot dogs, even at Christmas,” said Nelson.
“Besides, the price is right.”
The hot dogs are free, Nelson explained.
“And they’ll be some of the finest hot dogs you’ll ever have,” he promises.
Meet Santa at the community center
Santa and Mrs. Claus, with help from two elves, will be handing out Christmas candy and packages of peanuts, starting at 1 in the afternoon.
More than 125 children visited Santa Claus last year.
More kids are anticipated tomorrow, Nelson suggests.
“The more the merrier.”
After visiting with Santa Claus, kids and their families can take hayrides on Hank Geray’s wagon, pulled by two of Hank’s Belgian horses.
More family fun, say HBA members.
From 2 to 4 in the afternoon, the Plummer House is welcoming friends to tour the historic structure on Caledonia Ave. The Plummer House each year is decorated in traditional Victorian style for the holidays.
HBA presents big
at Christmas
The two Christmas packages, easily valued at more than $125 each, will be given away at 2:30 p.m. The drawings have meant special Christmases to some lucky kids the last two years, said Neil Nelson.
The gift-wrapped presents are all donated by Hillsboro stores.
Contributing gifts this year are NAPA Auto Parts, Oppegards, Inc., Amy’s Floral, Full Service Foods, Olsen Hardware, Uniquely Yours, Dale’s Food Pride, Hillsboro Drug, Wells Fargo, Dakota Heritage Bank, The Goose River Bank, The Lighthouse, Country Hearth, Stop-N-Go, Dawn’s Hair Salon and Burger King.
Cash drawings popular, too
The drawings for $300 in Hillsboro Bucks are scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday. Two drawings for $50 each will precede the $200 drawing.
Hillsboro shoppers can register while shopping Saturday morning.
Registration ends at 2 p.m.
Mary Beckman was the winner of the $200 drawing last year. Before last year, the Hillsboro Business Association gave away cash prizes to Bingo winners.
The Bingo games were a part of the HBA celebration of Christmas for many years, Nelson acknowledges.
Cash drawings are working for us now, he offered.
Lighted parade bigger and better
The HBA Parade of Lights, resurrected three years ago after many years of hibernation, promises to be better than last year, at least, offered Mark Forseth.
“We hope we’ll have a few more parade entries.”
Saturday promises temperatures in the teens, at best, but the parade, complete with candy tosses, is still a go, he promises.
Parade viewers are encouraged to tour Hillsboro’s neighborhoods and the many decorated homes after the Parade of Lights.
The three homes recognized this year by HBA Hometown Christmas coordinators are Charlie and Donna Nelson, Curt and Tammy Kaufman and Rich and Nettie Flieth.
Honorable mention recognition was given to Paul and Sheila Geray, Paul and Lori Schuh and Forrest and Paula Tronson. The Award of Excellence homes will be marked by lighted front lawn wreathes.
Free supper at the Vets Club
The Hillsboro Vets Club has joined the fun this year.
VFW and Legion auxiliary members will be serving chili and soup, starting at 6 tomorrow night.
The free supper is “simply a nice way of saying Merry Christmas and thanks for being a friend of the Vets Club,” according to auxiliary officers planning the free supper.
A total of 15 door prizes will be given away at the Christmas Party. The prizes include Hillsboro Bucks, Christmas centerpieces, frozen turkeys, hams and bacons and bird seed.
“Bird seed?” questioned Neil Nelson.
Sure, answered Betty Riemer and Barb Nelson.
“Birds like Christsmas, too.”
Hometown spirit evident
Hillsboro exemplifies hometown spirit, said HBA president Neil Nelson.
“Our Hometown Christmas this year and every year offers the best of what hometown is about this time of year — kids and Santa Claus, friends and family, business owners opening their arms and doors, Christmas lights at night and good feelings all around.”
A person can feel good about their town on days like this, Nelson said after last years Celebrating Christmas celebration.
Rightfully so.
“It shouldn’t be any different this year.”
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