Emden kicks off holiday season with
traditional Community Christmas
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[December 08, 2019]
Saturday, December 7, the Emden American
Legion Auxiliary, along with the Legion and Sons of the American
Legion, kicked off the holiday season with the second annual
Community Christmas.
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Last year was the return of what had been a holiday
tradition in years past and some who remembered the event from their
childhood helped bring it back.
The evening’s festivities began with children gathered around the
Christmas tree singing several Christmas songs as they anxiously
awaited the arrival of Santa Claus.
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Santa soon arrived in a town fire truck since his sleigh is being
prepared for all those deliveries.
After Santa officially lit the Christmas tree in the center of the
Lincoln street, everyone was invited to go down the street to the
Emden Community House for games, crafts, food and a Christmas movie.
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The Christmas themed games included tossing a ring
around Rudolph’s antlers, throwing a “snowball” through the
snowman’s nose, fishing for candy canes and pulling a surprise from
one of the cups arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree.
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Holiday crafts included making a jingle bell wreath, doing
fingerprint Christmas lifts, stamping cards, coloring a gingerbread
man and creating reindeer ornaments.
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At another table, children could write letters to Santa or make
their Christmas wish list.
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For those who worked up an appetite, there was
popcorn, hotdogs, chili, hot chocolate and cookies.
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The children also had a chance to sit on Santa’s lap and tell them
what they wanted for Christmas.
Ryder, Brantley and Coltyn Conrady were excited to see Santa and
tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
Young Weston Klokkenga told Santa he wanted a big tractor, a
combine, a monster truck, a bouncy house and toy spider.
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Seven-year olds J.J. and Emma said they have been good this year and
were excited to see Santa. Emma said she is making her list to give
to Santa.
Hannah Fitzpatrick, one of the event organizers who remembers
Community Christmas events from her childhood, said they decided to
do the same games this year, but different crafts. They plan to
switch up the games every few years.
Volunteers helped to prepare the food and bake the cookies.
Fitzpatrick said it was very nice to have that help. She said it was
also nice to have Logan County Fair Queen Skye Kretzinger stop by on
her way to another Christmas event.
Sarah Struebing, another event organizer said she thought the night
was a success. While there were 127 people come last year, and she
said it looked like even more came out for the festivities this
year.
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The evening’s activities ended with a viewing of “A Charlie Brown
Christmas,” another Christmas tradition.
The renewed tradition was a special way to kick off the holiday
season in Emden.
[Angela Reiners] |