Holiday Open Houses, Festival and Lighted Parade Planned in Humboldt


Downtown retailers are ready for open house weekend in their "ugly" Christmas tree skirts.

November will be a busy month for the Humboldt/Dakota City Chamber of Commerce, as there will be many activities to get citizens ready for the holiday season. It all starts this week with retail holiday open houses today (Thursday) through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (note that store hours will vary according to the merchant). There will be holiday open house specials and deals inside the store.

On Saturday, Nov. 12. Gordy’s at Rustix will be hosting a vendor sip, snack and shop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drink specials and food will be available for downtown shoppers.

A change this year will be the 2016 Holiday Festival and Lighted Parade, which will be Saturday, Nov. 26, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, not the Saturday before. This is in recognition of “Small Business Saturday,” a shopping day to support local businesses over big box stores or Internet outlets. Local retail businesses will have many holiday gift and other items for sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a special vendor fair and brunch at Gordy’s at Rustix. Holiday carolers will be downtown from 4-5 p.m., with the annual tree lighting ceremony at Parley Finch Plaza Park at 4:30 p.m.

Entries are being sought for the annual lighted holiday parade, with parade line-up beginning at 5:15 p.m. on Taft Street with the parade beginning at the corner of Taft Street and Sumner Avenue at 6 p.m. Organizations and individuals are welcome to participate in this year’s parade. All entries must be lighted and be Christmas-themed. Business names should not appear on the parade entry. The best lighted entry will receive first place recognition and a prize. Entries are due at the Humboldt/Dakota City Chamber of Commerce, 29 5th St. S., by Friday, Nov. 18. Parade registrations have been sent out to Chamber members, are available at the Chamber offer, or online at the Chamber web site, www.hdcchamber.org. The parade will travel east on Sumner to Main Street in Dakota City, ending at the VFW Hall. Entries are asked to continue down 5th Street South in Dakota City, beyond 1st Avenue South, to allow Santa and his sleigh room to get in the VFW Hall to see the children.

In addition to Santa, the Chamber will be offering meals of chili, cinnamon rolls and a drink for a freewill donation at the VFW. Parade patrons are invited to visit Kiwanis Christmasland, open from 6:30-8:30 p.m. that evening. “We are excited about the events we have planned for this month, and encourage people to shop Humboldt and participate in the many activities,” Chamber Director Jenna Mulford said.

Questions about any of the events may be directed to Mulford at (515) 332-1481.

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