By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Holiday Season Arrives Downtown
christmas lights

Though attendees might have to dodge a few raindrops, the 14th annual Downtown Christmas is on the schedule in Oakdale for Saturday, Dec. 3.

Hours for the event are 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the holiday festivities are organized and planned by Foxy Designs Clothing. Vendor booths of all types will be set up along North Second and North Third in the downtown corridor. Weather forecasters are predicting about a 50 percent chance of rain on Saturday.

Along with giving people the opportunity to shop for some unique gifts, the annual Downtown Christmas is also a fundraising event for charity.

All vendor fees collected are donated to a charity. The three charities benefitting from the fees this year include Toys for Tots, Oakdale Lions Club and ASTRO Foundation.

“With the booth fees and the raffle, we’re hoping to raise over $10,000 for local charities in Oakdale,” Event Coordinator McKaela Golding said.

In addition to extended store hours for many of the downtown merchants and a variety of vendors setting up shop on Saturday, there will be some special photo opportunities. Santa Claus will be at Integrity Air on North Third from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for photos and those wishing to get a picture with the Grinch can stop by the Second Avenue parking lot between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Along with the downtown festivities on Saturday, the Oakdale Enrichment Society will present its sixth annual Christmas Parade.

Stepping off from the gathering spot along Oak Street at 5 p.m., the parade will travel eastbound from Oak Street down Poplar, concluding at E Street and North Second. Spectators are encouraged to set up chairs and settle in early along the route to enjoy what should be several dozen entries in the annual holiday parade.

Individuals interested in entering a float can submit the entry form found on the OES website, oakdaleoes.com.