The Christmas Spirit is alive and well in the city of Oakdale. This Saturday, Dec. 2 downtown businesses will extend their hours and open their doors in support of the Ninth Annual Downtown Christmas. The event will be hosted from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
In addition to downtown businesses extending hours, close to 50 vendors will fill North Third Avenue, offering unique gift and home items to holiday shoppers.
“Everything goes to charity,” downtown businesswoman and first time co-chair Tammy Golding shared.
The “everything” Golding refers to will come by way of money raised via the ever popular wagon ride offered by Stueve Organic, as well as through drawings for raffle prizes and vendor booth fees.
Wagon rides will be offered at $1 per rider or a donation of a canned good or toy for Toys for Tots. Financial proceeds from the featured attraction will go toward the Children’s Guardian Home and canned goods will be donated to Oakdale Community Sharing.
Raffle tickets are currently being sold for $2 each at a number of downtown business locations. Persons purchasing tickets will have the opportunity to win one of close to 100 raffle prizes collected to be offered at the annual event. All proceeds raised by the raffle will go directly to the Oakdale Lions Club Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour.
Golding stated booth space is still available to reserve through the end of the business day Thursday, Nov. 30. The $40 booth fee will be applied to a non-profit of the donor’s choice. Persons interested in reserving booth space may do so by calling Foxy Designs at 493-8160.
Downtown organizers have spent many hours putting together an event for the entire family to enjoy.
For the first time in its nine-year run, Oakdale’s Downtown Christmas will feature a parade, as well. According to Rivi’s owner Paul Rivera, the parade will begin on Poplar Street (behind Magnolia Elementary School) and proceed to the downtown area. It will conclude by the House of Tykes. Parade start time is at 5:30 p.m. Entries are still being accepted. Groups interested can inquire by calling Rivera at 606-7285.
A Downtown Christmas wouldn’t be complete without fun and frolic for the children. To aid parents with keeping the young ones entertained, a petting zoo and kid zone area will be set up for the pint sized shoppers. Santa Claus is also expected to be on site to for photo opportunities at Curves-Jenny Craig from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
