The Christmas season opens in Kewanee this weekend, offering everything from lighted parks to open houses at local businesses.
On the list of events to start the season are:
— The Lighted Christmas Parade will step off at 5 p.m. Sunday. The parade will organize in the parking lot in the 100 block of West McClure Street and proceed west on McClure to Windmont Park.
Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, said as of Thursday morning there were 18 entries in the parade.
Mikenas said the recent snow and cold weather may have discouraged some entrants.
The Christmas displays in the park will be lighted for the first time after the parade arrives.
Also lighting up for the first time will be the Christmas displays in Northeast Park.
— Kewanee Elks Lodge 724 invites children and their parents to lunch with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in their clubroom at 113 N. Tremont St.
— A “Small Business Crawl,” sponsored by Farmers Insurance in Kewanee, is planned Friday through Sunday.
Shoppers can visit participating businesses and get a card punched at each stop. Completed cards can be turned in at Farmers Insurance to be entered in a drawing.
Participating businesses are Coco’s, Empire Bookstore, Blissful Branch, Blooms by Heartfelt, Johnson’s Hub, Jessie’s Closet, Good’s Furniture, Country Morning Coffee, HRD Tack Shop’s trailer in the Good’s parking lot, Breedlove’s Sporting Goods and Prairie Chicken Haus on Route 78 north of Kewanee.
— Edgewood Drive residents will put out luminaries around their properties starting at dusk Sunday.
— Luminaries will also be put out on South Chestnut Street from Central Boulevard to Division Street.
— Ginny Henson will present a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 208 S. Elm St. The event will feature folk art, antiques and holiday greens. More information is available at 815-482-4529.
— A grand opening will be held Saturday at Jenny’s Gaming Cafe, 544 Tenney Street. Complimentary food will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
— Wethersfield High School’s Student Council will present a Holly Jolly Festival from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature Christmas music and a ceramics sale by the school’s art department.
Admission is $5, and photos with Santa will be available for $5.
Sponsors for the event are Community State Bank, OSF in Kewanee, Farmers Insurance, The Daily Fix and Arrow Real Estate.
— The Katie’s Coats for Kids drive is under way until Dec. 16. New or gently used coats may be dropped off at the Wanee Theater.
— Abilities Plus will hold their holiday open house from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at their facility at 1100 N. East St.
— Time Out Pub and Grub, 200 E. Seventh St., is offering a Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaways promotion. Details are available on the business’s Facebook page.
