Marysville will turn into a Christmas postcard Saturday, December 6, as A Hometown Christmas brings a day of activities, shopping, food and fireworks to Broadway. The event is sponsored by OneMarysville and the City of Marysville.
The day begins at the Marysville Public Library, 1009 Broadway, with a Holiday Make-and-Take Craft from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Families can stop in and leave with a project ready to hang on the tree or give as a gift.
From noon to 4:30 p.m., three of Marysville’s historic attractions — the Koester House Museum, the Marshall County Historic Courthouse and the Pony Express Barn and Museum — will host a Christmas open house. Visitors can step inside, see the exhibits and browse the gift shops for unique local gift ideas that support the museums’ work.
Christmas Wonderland, located next to Santa’s house in Koester Park, will officially open with a ribbon cutting at noon. The space has been transformed into a bright, playful holiday village where kids can run, climb and explore while parents and grandparents take in the lights and decorations. With more displays and hands-on fun than last year — and room for photos, games and make-believe — Christmas Wonderland will stay open all season for families to enjoy.
Between noon and 2 p.m., visitors are invited to join the downtown Cocoa Walk. The Cocoa Walk begins at Holiday Gifts and More, located in the former Nordhus Motor building, 1301 Broadway. Participants will pick up a scorecard before heading out to sample cocoa at participating businesses. At each stop, tasters rate their cocoa. Scorecards will be tallied and the business with the highest score will receive an advertising prize package.
Entries for the “Deck the Doghouse” competition, Snoopy’s Dog House Decorating Contest, are due by 1 p.m. at the Marysville Public Library. Doghouses may be no larger than 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet. Entries can be dropped off at the library any time during the week leading up to the event but must be in place by 1 p.m. Saturday.
Age divisions are 5 and under, 5 to 8, 9 to 10 and 11 to 13. Winners will be announced just before Santa arrives in the parade. Santa will present each winner with a stocking filled with gifts valued at $50. After the contest, decorated doghouses will be displayed at locations throughout town.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Champ & Company of Concordia, Kansas, will provide free horse and carriage rides loading at Pony Park, offering a classic way to see the decorations and storefronts.
At 2 p.m., Santa’s parade will come down Broadway with the theme “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Community groups, churches and businesses are encouraged to join the parade. To register an entry, people are asked to contact OneMarysville by Friday or line up near the historic courthouse on the day of the event.
Afternoon activities continue from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. with visits to Santa in his house, a live Nativity in the Koester House Gardens and barrel train rides for children. The Tipsy Trailer food truck will be parked downtown, available through the afternoon and into the evening.
At Pony Park, the Marysville Volunteer Fire Department will host a chili feed fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Families can gather around the firepits from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. to roast marshmallows, build their own S’mores and enjoy a relaxed break in the middle of the festivities.
The day will conclude at 5:30 p.m. with the lighting of the city’s new Christmas tree in Pony Park. The community will gather for a countdown as the mayor flips the switch to light the tree for the first time. The ceremony will lead directly into a fireworks show, closing the day on a bright note.
Additional details are available at onemarysville.com and on the OneMarysville Facebook page.
Marysville makes the season—together.
