Santa’s House in Waverly, Iowa. Photos by the Waverly Chamber of Commerce
On Thursday, Dec.11 from 6-8 p.m., Main Street will have businesses with unique window displays, hot chocolate stations set up around the area and Santa riding in on a firetruck. Christmas on Main, a Waverly tradition, happens every year on the second Thursday of December and has been around since 1988.
With the bridge opening recently, the first event will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. and the last event will be fireworks released near Kohlmann Park. Other events include living window displays from the local businesses, free hot cocoa, ice sculptures, a live nativity and a dance performance from Studio by Alyssa. The headline sponsor this year will be First Bank.
Santa will also be making an appearance. He will arrive by fire truck at 6 p.m. and then be available at his house in Kohlmann Park. He will also be available every Saturday and Thursday leading up until Dec. 23.
Live music from carolers will also be around Main Street, along with costume characters available for photos. The group Oktoberfest will be setting up a hot chocolate, mulled cider and a warming station.
Visitors are encouraged to walk into stores and shops, with some businesses offering activities such as cookie decorating and photos with characters. Schrage says that Christmas on Main usually attracts about five thousand visitors, both from Waverly and other towns.
“To walk up and down the streets, take in the holiday cheer, and look at these live windows,” says Tiffany Schrage, the events director at the Waverly Chamber of Commerce, “…it really is our businesses and organizations that come in that put on that holiday magic, which is…what it’s all about.”
Businesses either put on their own live window displays or partner up with groups such as Waverly-Shell Rock United Way or Waverly-Shell Rock High School Robotics.
“We do anything that relates to community events,” Schrage says, “so anything that would be free, fun for the entire community, family-friendly events that increase quality of life here in Waverly.”
Besides Christmas on Main, the Waverly Chamber of Commerce also facilitates events such as the Art Walk and various concerts in Kohlmann Park.
Schrage says that an event like this is beneficial to students so that they can explore the community, have a fun event and get off campus for a bit. In addition, Sir Victor will be around Main Street and Wartburg will be hosting one of the hot chocolate locations.
More specific info about events during Christmas on Main is available on the poster below. Other events hosted by the City of Waverly and the Chamber of Commerce are posted on the calendar on the City of Waverly website.
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