A Hometown Christmas is an afternoon of small-town Christmas magic in downtown Marysville—parade, cocoa, lights, music, shopping and plenty for kids and adults to do together. It’s a chance to shop small, shop local and enjoy everything our hometown has to offer.
Plan to spend the afternoon downtown. Local stores will be open and ready for holiday shoppers, and from 12–4:30 p.m. Marysville’s museums will be part of the celebration.
The Pony Express Barn and Museum, the Marshall County Historic Courthouse and the Koester House Museum will each offer holiday activities and a chance to step inside Marysville’s history while you’re out and about.
In the middle of it all, the Tipsy Trailer food truck will be parked close to Santa’s house giving you a spot to grab lunch or a warm drink between stops.
Kids are invited to enter Deck the Doghouse: Snoopy’s Dog House Decorating Contest. Doghouses should not exceed 2’ x 2’ x 2’. Entries are due at the Marysville Public Library by 1 p.m. on Saturday and may be dropped off earlier in the week. Winners in four age groups—5 and under, 5–8, 9–10 and 11–13—will receive stockings filled with gifts valued at $50. Winners will be announced just before Santa arrives in the parade, and Santa will present the prizes.
From 12–1:30 p.m. youngsters can enjoy mule rides with Pistol Annie and Red in the alley across Ninth Street west of Santa’s House.
From 12–2 p.m. warm up with our Cocoa Walk. Move from business to business tasting their version of hot cocoa and filling out a scorecard to rate each one. When the scorecards are tallied, the business with the winning cocoa will receive an advertising package—so every sip helps support our local shops and gives them a boost.
Also from 12–2 p.m., Christmas Wonderland at Koester Park will be open for kids to explore, experience and play among the daytime lights and displays before everything glows at night.
At the Koester House Museum, enjoy a Christmas Open House with hot cider, cookies and the gift shop open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The live Nativity cast will walk in the parade, then be in the manger scene on the brick walkway behind the museum from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., with Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wisemen, sheep and lambs bringing the story to life. Footloose dancers and violinist Micah Kee will provide music in the archway.
Santa’s Christmas parade steps off at 2 p.m. on Broadway with the theme A Charlie Brown Christmas. Look for the live Nativity re-enactors and the barrel train in the parade; the barrel train will offer rides after the parade wraps up.
Plan to spend the afternoon downtown—shop local stores, visit the museums, sip cocoa and take in the lights and music—as we celebrate A Hometown Christmas.
Marysville makes the season—together.
