Celebrating the start of the holiday season will be different this year in Gladbrook. The Commercial Club is excited to announce that on Wednesday, November 18, on Main Street, from 6-8pm, Santa will be greeting everyone with a smile and a wave. This will be a “drive-by” event. Santa will be sitting in a decorated winter wonderland located in the grass lots on the south side of Main Street. Families will stay in vehicles and wave as they drive by. Traffic will slowly move down Main Street with the line starting at the NAPA store lining up to the west (heading east). Santa’s elves will directing traffic forming two lines. One line is for those who just wish to drive by and wave and the other line for those who wish to get a photo with Santa. If you wish to take a photo, one vehicle at a time will be directed to pull up, stop, unload the children and they will be able to go up to stand in front of the raised platform where Santa will be sitting – no sitting on Santa’s lap. All children going through the line will receive a Santa sack with treats and a gift. We ask that everyone stay in their cars – no walking through the line. We hope to see you on Main Street to welcome Santa to town.

The Commercial Club is also sponsoring a Christmas lighting contest this year in place of the Festival of Trees. We are asking the residents of Gladbrook get out those strings of Christmas light, get them up, and “Let’s Light Up the Town.” There is no need to register your light display to participate in the contest. Any house or business with decorations and outside lights will be judged. The top three favorite displays will be awarded with First Place receiving $100 in Gladbrook Bucks. Judging will be done sometime December 18-20 after 7pm. Let’s see the lights in town shine for the Christmas season.