Photo by Betty Dahms In this photo from last year, Carlee Grace Smith is enjoying a trolley ride around town with her parents Sherri and Dave Smith at the 18th Annual Tree Lighting Festivities. Trolley ride is just one of the fun activities planned for the 19th Annual Tree Lighting Festivities to be held Monday, November 23.

The Gladbrook Commercial Club is sponsoring the 19th annual Christmas tree lighting festivities on Main Street, Mon., Nov. 23rd, 5-7 p.m. The festivities will include the lighting and viewing of Gladbrooks annual “Festival of Trees” in the City Center. An evening of seasonal festivities and fellowship is geared for the whole family. The “Festival of Trees” will be on display through January 1st.

This year the Gladbrook Women’s Club will be judging the trees. There will be five categories Business, Organizations, Kids, Religious, and Misc. The Gladbrook Commercial Club will be giving away trade dollars to the winner of the Peoples Choice Award. The display with the most cash in the Christmas sack will win the prize. Christmas music will be played by Sue Koster.

Everyone is welcome to decorate a tree for the “Festival of Trees”. You can also bring in a holiday place settingor wreath bring your own stand. Sign-up sheets are available at the City Center, and there is no charge. All trees much be decorated by Nov. 22nd.

Santa Claus will make his annual appearance in Gladbrook on Nov. 23rd as well. He will be upstairs in the City Center right in the heart of the “Festival of Trees” passing out the Santa sacks. You are welcome to take your own pictures. Elves will be helping out Santa if you just want to pick up your Santa Sack. Your never too old to get a sack! The Santa Sacks are sponsored by the Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary (popcorn balls), Grundy Memorial Hospital (apples & peanuts), and the Commercial Club (M&Ms & candy canes). We would like to thank the Gladbrook Womens Club for sacking the treats.

There will be a Farmers Market in the City Center. The vendors will be selling their delicious products as well as taking orders for the holidays.

The activities on Nov. 23rd will begin at 5:00. Christmas music will be playing by the beautifully lighted Christmas tree, donated by Keith & Shelly Smith, to help everyone get into the holiday spirit and the businesses will be open for your holiday shopping and scavenger hunt.

A new event at the Gladbrook Tree Lighting this year is a Holiday Ornament Scavenger Hunt sponsored by the Gladbrook Commercial Club. This event will begin at 2 p.m so you have plenty of time to stop at six participating businesses. Please begin your hunt at Serendipity by deb for instructions and to receive your first ornament piece. When you have collected all six pieces from Serendipity, Hometown Foods, NAPA, Day in the Sun, The Smith General Store & Gladbrook Theatre, you will have created a Snowman Ornament that will adorn a tree in the Festival of Trees upstairs in the City Center. All entries need to be turned in upstairs at the tree, hosted by the mayor and his wife, between 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for a chance to win one of two gift baskets for children and adults! You may pick-up your ornament after January 1st.

You will find a whole lot more than just your ornament pieces in these six businesses beginning at 2 p.m. NAPA will be passing out candy; Hometown Foods will be serving free samples; Smith General Store will be serving refreshments and samples and their will be prizes; Day In the Sun stop will be a surprise; City Center will be giving out popcorn; and Serendipity by deb will be offering spectacular savings and serving samples of Beer Breads & Dips, and Egg Nog Cookies. Wine tasting & Spiced Cranberry Cider for the adults will begin at 5 p.m.

Hot apple cider and hot dogs will be served starting at 5 p.m. Everything is free of charge and sponsored in part by Hometown Foods, Alliant-Energy, Gladbrook Covenant Clinic, Gladbrook Theater, Anderson Funeral Home, area businesses and the Commercial Club.

There will be trolley rides for all ages beginning at 5 p.m. The lighted trolley, owned by Dennis Dostal, is pulled by a team of Belgians. The trolley rides are sponsored by Goos Implement and Great Western Bank.

The Christmas program will begin at 6:30 with the illumination of the tree.

The Gladbrook-Reinbeck chorus will be singing Christmas carols followed by the drawing for all the adult and kids prizes. There will be four lucky winners of $25 in trade dollars. These prizes are donated by MLS Transfer, area businesses and the Commercial Club. You must be present to win.

We can’t thank the Gladbrook Young Women enough for their donation, helping with the prizes, and decorating the Santa stage.

Come one and all as we transform Gladbrook’s Main Street into a holiday wonderland.