The Freeman Community Center will be the location for many of the festivities planned as part of this year’s Hometown Christmas and Mistletoe Market celebration. The event runs from 4:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, December 1.
Sponsored by the Freeman Community Development Corporation (FCDC), 18 vendors and an assortment of free activity booths will be on site.
Vendors that are part of this year’s outstanding line-up
- Chad Frost with Chad’s Custom Woodworking
- Sarah (Harris) Barlow with ColorStreet
- Teresa Anderson with Country Girl Jams & Jellies & Rada Cutlery
- Bev Duffel with Crafts by Bad Grandma
- Skyla Dowden with Dipsy Dip & other home items
- the Et Cetera Shoppe with coffees, chocolates, and more
- Heritage Hall Museum & Archives Mercantile
- Eva Neuharth with Innov8tive Posh
- Tamara Mutchelknaus with Kitchen Koozies
- Angel Torbertson with Lemongrass Spa
- Betty Walter with Mary Kay Cosmetics
- Marj Wollman with Mary & Martha
- Darla Harris with Norwex
- Peg Waltner with Pampered Chef
- Prairie Roots Produce
- Priority Real Estate
- Smith Sisters Farmacy
- Malynda Penner with Thirty-One.
Vintage Vault Floral and Fashions has arranged for Santa and Mrs. Claus to arrive from the North Pole at 6:00 PM! They’ll be available for photos and stories until 7:30 PM; kids will also have the opportunity to write letters to Santa.
A Make-Your-Own Hot Chocolate Station, with an assortment of confections, will be provided courtesy of Freeman Regional Health Services.
Free taverns and chips will be served by the Freeman Missionary Church; the food will be available beginning at 5:00 PM and continuing until it’s gone.
Also beginning at 5:00 PM, Hometown Christmas guests will have the opportunity to try their luck at winning a holiday ham with Ham Bingo taking place in the Community Center meeting room. New rounds of bingo will begin every 15 minutes and continue until 7:00 PM. Shout-outs to all 79 FCDC-member businesses and individuals who will be featured as part of the bingo fun.
Other free activity booths for all ages
- Make & Take Christmas Ornaments facilitated by Salem Mennonite Home
- Cookie Decorating organized by the Freeman Shopping Center
- Make & Take Gift Tags led by Printed Impressions
- Punch-A-Bunch Carnival Game headed up by the Freeman Missionary Church
Horse-drawn wagon rides (Weather and street conditions permitting)
Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be available from 4:00-8:00 PM, as well, courtesy of Vintage Vault Floral & Fashions, JH Diesel & Ag Repair, Merchants State Bank, Priority Real Estate, and State Farm-Mark Kasten. Rides will originate from the corner of Fourth & Main near the Vintage Vault.
Everything – with the exception of purchases from vendors – is free of charge.
A variety of local businesses will be open for extended hours in conjunction with Hometown Christmas. Among those are Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, Fensel’s Flower Shop (with a 20% discount from 4:00-8:00 PM) and Mannes Petals & Patchwork Floral.