Nov. 22, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Take a quick trip outside of Sioux Falls to neighboring towns served by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance to catch the spirit of the season. You’ll find Santa, parades, pancakes, cookies, hot cocoa and a welcoming vibe.

Baltic

Baltic’s Santa Day will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and organizers are working on a location and activities. Kids can have their photo taken with Santa, and in past years, they’ve been able to play games, make crafts and decorate cookies. There usually is a cake walk too. Get updates here.

Baltic High School isn’t having its traditional Renaissance-themed Christmas dinner theater performance this year. Organizers have decided to put it on every other year.

Brandon

The annual Parade of Lights starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. The VFW float with Santa will lead the parade from the high school down Holly Boulevard to Main Street. Santa will be dropped off at the VFW Post Hall for a meet-and-greet with kids of all ages. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served. If the parade is canceled because of weather, Santa will be at the VFW starting at 6 p.m.

That day also is Shop Small Saturday, sponsored by the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. Locally owned stores will offer deals and events to kick-start holiday shopping. Visit at least six participating stores to be entered in a prize drawing. Get the details here.

Photo courtesy of the Brandon Valley Journal

The annual Cookie Parade Fair on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Risen Savior Parish will feature both a parade and prepackaged Christmas cookies and candies. People will be able to go through the line to select their own treats. Prices are $15 per container — a 9-inch pie plate with lid — or two for $25. Cookie sales begin at 9:30 a.m. and wrap up by 2:30 p.m. or sooner if they’re all gone. Turkey croissants and soups will be available beginning at noon. There will be a 50/50 cash raffle and raffle baskets. St. Nicholas will make an appearance.

Canton

The Festival of Trees is back. It will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the Canton Performing Arts Center. Check out all the decorated trees, and shop at the holiday vendor fair. Santa will be there to hear wish lists and for photos.

The Canton Barn is hosting Santa Day from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. The event is free. Canton Area Toys for Tots will be collecting toys and cash donations.

The Canton Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Parade starts at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, downtown, traveling on Fifth Street from Milwaukee to Main streets. That’s followed by the lighting of the Lincoln County Courthouse trees, caroling and hot apple cider at 7:30 p.m. Santa will be there to visit with the kids.

Search for the perfect tree to cut down at Riverview Christmas Tree Farm north of town. The farm started selling trees last weekend and will be open the next three weekends – if the inventory lasts that long! It’s also open Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. Visit Santa while you’re there, and shop for holiday crafts and Christmas wreaths in the lodge. Enjoy hot drinks, holiday treats and wine tasting.

Colton

Tri-Valley FFA is organizing Santa Days on Saturday, Dec. 10, with fun activities for kids, a lunch from the FCCLA and a 4-H bake sale. Proceeds from wrapping Christmas presents will go to the Colton pool fund. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Taopi Hall.

Crooks

Santa Claus is coming to town Sunday, Dec. 11. He’ll be at the Crooks Community Center from 3 to 5 p.m. The event, organized by Crooks Area Working Together, will offer activities for the kids, cookies and a photo op with the big guy. Bundle up, and enjoy wagon rides – weather permitting. CAWT is collecting freewill donations or new winter hats and waterproof gloves for the Tri-Valley Angel Tree. Find updates here. 

That night, there will be a parade of lights, starting at 6 p.m. at Crooks Branch of Siouxland Libraries and ending at the fire hall.

Dell Rapids

Dell Rapids is celebrating Christmas at the Dells from Dec. 2-4. The Christmas tree at the Dells Senior Center will be lit at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, followed by the Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. on Main Street. Other highlights for Saturday include a children’s craft and activities from 9 a.m. to noon at Carnegie Library, a free showing of a Christmas movie at 10 a.m. at Dells Theatre, sleigh or hay rides from 1 to 3 p.m. on Main Street and a soup supper at the American Legion from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The Dell Rapids High School and St. Mary’s jazz band will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Opera House. On Sunday, Corduroy & Pixie Dust is offering free photos with Santa from 1 to 3 p.m. Click here to get the full schedule for Christmas at the Dells.

Garretson

The town’s annual Hometown Christmas will be Saturday, Dec. 10. Activities begin with a community appreciation breakfast with French toast and sausages from 9 a.m. to noon at the Legion Dugout. Freewill donations will go toward the installation of a sound system downtown. The Legion also will host a vendor fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and kids crafts from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop in the museum from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for free popcorn, treats, cider and coffee. Firetruck and horse-drawn carriage rides will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. downtown.

Photo courtesy of Garretson Gazette

The Parade of Lights on Main Street starts at 6:30 p.m. See the Garretson Hometown Christmas full schedule here.

Photo courtesy of Garretson Gazette

Light the Park at Split Rock Park isn’t being held this year.

Harrisburg

Santa Claus arrives in Harrisburg on Friday, Dec. 2. Gather at Lake Ole at 5:45 p.m., where he’ll help light the town’s Christmas tree at 6 p.m. The Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce will serve hot chocolate and candy canes, and provide glow sticks for the kids to help welcome Santa to town. Drop off letters to Santa with a return address, and he’ll respond.

Lava’s Old Fashioned Christmas will offer horse-drawn wagon rides provided by Darrell Vik. The rides will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10, starting in the parking lot of Lava’s Coffee & Café. Stop inside to buy a cup of coffee or cocoa, and check out the gift shop.

The annual Prairie Christmas concerts will be at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Harrisburg High School Performing Arts Center. Admission is free, but seats can be reserved here. 

Find a fresh-cut tree, decorated wreaths, greens and handmade crafts and gifts at Christmas Tree Acres on Highway 115. The business is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Tree sales started last weekend, and don’t wait if you want one – last year there were gone by the end of November. Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend. Santa will be at Christmas Tree Acres from noon to 3 p.m. on the weekend after Thanksgiving and the following one, too, if there are any trees left.

Hartford

Hartford Hometown Christmas will be celebrated Sunday, Dec. 4. The traditional community breakfast to start the day will be served at the Hartford Fire Station from 7 to 10:30 a.m. From noon to 4 p.m., there will be activities for the kids with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the fire station, a carnival at the West Central coliseum and a vendor show at the West Central Becker Center. Watch a children’s movie at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, with Christmas caroling at 4 p.m. Activities downtown in the afternoon include gingerbread house and mini Christmas tree contests, cookie decorating at Buffalo Ridge Brewing and a bonfire at 4:30 p.m. The Knights of Columbus is serving a community dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. George Catholic Church.

The lighting of the town’s Christmas tree and the Parade of Lights will be at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street, and the day ends with a fireworks show at 7:30 p.m. at the high school. Follow the event on Facebook on at hartfordhtc.com for details.

Lennox

Santa Night and Tree Walk will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, in the LWC Intermediate cafetorium. Visit with Santa and enjoy treats.

The annual Festival of Tables sponsored by the Lennox Band Boosters also has returned. Tour the decorated tables and raffle items, and enjoy brunch Saturday, Dec. 10, in the LWC Intermediate cafetorium. The jazz band students will play holiday music. Doors open at 10 a.m., and brunch will be served at 10:30 a.m., with the raffle starting at 11 a.m. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. See the raffle items here. 

Cut your own Christmas tree at Tannenbaum Tree Farm, which is northeast of Lennox. It’s open starting Friday, Nov. 25, from noon to 5 p.m. Hours this weekend and possibly the following one are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. No Fraser firs are available again this year, but there are Scotch pine trees and three varieties of spruce. Wreaths, door swags and winter containers are available. Get updates on availability on the farm’s Facebook page.

Salem

Salem Hometown Christmas, hosted by Salem Community Women and the Progressive Salem Association, will be celebrated Friday, Dec. 2. Activities include a bingo party, soup supper and kids store before the Parade of Lights that starts at 7 p.m. at City Park. Afterward, Santa and Mrs. Claus will head to the Legion Hall to greet children. Kids can bring letters for Santa to put in his mailbox. The town’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be at 7:30 p.m. For a full list of activities, see the event’s page on Facebook.

Tea

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Tea Community Library Saturday, Nov. 26. Take a photo with them from 9 to 10:30 a.m. There also will be cookies, face painting and coloring.

Valley Springs

Santa Claus Day is Saturday, Dec. 17. Santa will arrive in town at 3 p.m. at the American Legion for this Valley Springs Community Club event. He’ll be there until he hears what’s on everyone’s wish list. People can sign up for a raffle to win one of 12 turkeys. The drawing will be at 2:55 p.m.

Worthing

The Worthing Masonic Lodge is bringing back its annual Breakfast With Santa after a two-year break. Santa arrives at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Olde Towne Dinner Theatre, and breakfast will be served until 11 a.m. All ages are welcome for pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee. Freewill donations are welcome. Take photos with Santa, and there will be prizes for the kids. In case of bad weather, the event will be Dec. 17.

Billion Southtown’s Holiday Light Show includes more than 10,000 lights synchronized to holiday songs and runs every evening from 4 p.m. to midnight. The show runs into the new year. Visitors are invited to stop in the dealership at the Interstate 29 exit during business hours for popcorn and coffee.