Enjoy the magic of the Christmas Season with fun and shopping for all ages, Saturday November 19th as Tama-Toledo celebrates Home for the Holidays-A Community Christmas Kickoff!

The day begins with breakfast and free pictures with Santa along with a Kid-Friendly Cookie Walk at the Tama-Toledo Country Club from 9 a.m. Noon. Proceeds from the breakfast and the cookie walk benefit Tama Toledo Ladies Golf. Printed photos will be posted at Shopko in the week following the event.

The synthetic ice rink opens at 10 a.m. just east of the Courthouse Square. Skates of all sizes will be provided, though you may bring your own. The Chamber requires a waiver be signed allowing anyone under age 18 to skate. These will be provided at the rink.

The Vendor Fair at STC High School is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. At press, 42 vendors have registered to attend. A meal is being offered. Proceeds generated benefit STC After-Prom.

Mrs. Claus will be reading stories and providing crafts & snacks to the youngsters at the Tama County Museum from 1-2 p.m..

The Wieting Theatre presents the free matinee movie “ELF” beginning at 2 p.m.

In staying true to the theme of Home for the Holidays, horse-drawn carriage rides will be provided by Dennis Dostal from 2:30-4:30PM around the Courthouse Square.

The Wieting Theatre Guild is hosting a meal beginning at 4 p.m. at the Toledo American Legion. Tickets will be sold in advance at a cost of $5 and your choice of meal times 4 p.m. (before parade) or 5:30 p.m.(afterparade). Advance ticket sales are recommended as seating is limited. All proceeds from the meal will benefit Phase II construction of the Wieting Theatre. The meal will be pasta, salad, garlic bread, bars, coffee or drink.

Line up for the lighted parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Middle School. Parade begins at 5 p.m. All businesses are encouraged to participate with a lighted entry. Float theme is “Party at the North Pole.” Parade is expected to be larger than usual. Businesses are encouraged to work on their lighted entries while the weather remains comfortable.

Following the parade will be the Lighting of the Courtyard Square.

Sunday the celebration continues with Breakfast and the Annual Cookie Walk at the Country Club from 9AM to Noon. Also the Ice Rink will reopen from 10AM 2PM. Skaters are asked to make a free-will donation in order to skate. Chaperones from Kid’s Corner Daycare will monitor the skaters and proceeds generated will benefit Kid’s Corner Daycare. The Rink will be closed to the public from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday for a Tama County 4H Club Members skating party. Syd & Hala will perform a free Christmas concert at the Wieting Theatre Sunday afternoon at 2PM.

The rink will be open Monday November 21, from 3:30 -5:30PM. Chaperones from Baseball Club will be accepting free will donations. Proceeds generated will benefit the Baseball Club.

The Ice Rink will be open Tuesday November 22, from 3:30-5:30PM. Cub Scouts will also be asking for a free will offering during this time frame. Chaperones from the Cub Scouts will monitor skaters and proceeds will benefit the Cub Scouts.

Free Ice Skating will be offered from 11AM 3PM on Wednesday November 23. South Tama National Honor Society, Student Council, and Leadership Club along with some parent sponsors will be chaperoning the rink. Snacks and hot chocolate will be provided. STC students do not have school Wednesday due to holiday vacation.

Please patronize and tell these local sponsors “Thank You” for sponsoring this fun family focused event:

Platinum Sponsors: State Bank of Toledo, Bohemian Mutual Insurance Association

Gold Sponsors: RESTONIC, Williams Manufacturing, Pinnacle Bank, Tama Paperboard, Bituminous, Lennox Industries, Tama County Abstract, Bumblebees

Silver Sponsors: Sunny Hill, Independent Insurance, USS Polaris-Upah Tax, Werner’s Grain, State Farm Insurance, Dirks Realty, Tama Livestock Auction, Premier Estates, Mercy Care Tama, Shopko, Alliant Energy, Scharnweber’s, Jiffy, Carquest of Toledo, Sandhill Auto Salvage, Thomas Company, Subway, & Ultimate Image

Bronze Sponsors: Heartland Dental, Kruse Funeral Home, Medicap, Hrabak Lumber, Stein Hrabak Flooring, Twin City Chiropractic, Deer Creek, Chyma’s Machine Shop, Anytime Fitness, Super 8, Ternus Electric, Mike’s Pizza, Kwik Star, New Century Farm Service, Central Iowa Physio, Tama Grundy Publishing

Other Sponsors: Farm Bureau, Thys, Manatts, Ferrellgas, Roland & Dieleman CPA, Pieper Ins., Hiram of Tyre Lodge A.F. & A.M., Toledo Chapter O.E.S., Eyecare Associates, Casey’s General Store Toledo, Chelsea Savings Bank, Wobeter & Associates

Remember shopping locally will continue to make future events like this possible.

A complete itinerary will be listed on the front page of the Tama County Shopper the week of the event. Please see Facebook and www.tamtoledochamber.com for more details.