Gladbrook’s 20th Festival of Trees (pictured in a past year) will kick off Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the downtown City Centre alongside the community’s 28th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities. SUN COURIER FILE PHOTO

GLADBROOK – The Gladbrook community will kick-off the holiday season with the 28th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities, which will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This year will be the 20th Festival of Trees in the City Centre celebrating with the theme “Snow Much Fun.”  

In the Festival of Trees, you will find numerous decorated Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes, holiday wreaths, and other displays. You will enjoy some very unique and colorful decorations. The trees are sponsored by area businesses, churches, individuals, and organizations.

Santa Claus will make his annual appearance in Gladbrook at the Festival of Trees. He will be upstairs in the City Centre waiting for you to visit with him starting at 5:30 p.m. Jolly Old St. Nick will be seated on the decorated stage, where you can take your own Santa pictures and get your Santa Sack of goodies. The elves will be helping Santa if you just want to pick up your Santa Sack. You are never too old to get a sack!

Starting at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in the covered shelter next to Hometown Foods, the Commercial Club will be serving free hot dogs and hot apple cider. Kids and adults can sign up for prizes there, too. The children must sign up to get a present to take home and adults can sign up to be entered in a drawing for four $25 Gladbrook Trade Dollars.

Meet on Main Street to line up for a horse-drawn wagon ride. Young and old alike can climb aboard to enjoy a ride. 

At 7 p.m. the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Chorus will be singing Christmas carols around the Christmas tree. The lighting of the tree will be at 7:15 p.m. followed by the drawing for the prizes. You must be present to win.

The Gladbrook Commercial Club (area businesses, organizations, and interested individuals) sponsor the Tree Lighting and the Festival of Trees.