Wood County communities getting ready for Christmas

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The Christmas season will soon be in evidence around Wood County.

The turkey will barely be put away on Thanksgiving when Quitman lights its yuletide tree on the courthouse square at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24, with several downtown merchants also open to offer an early look on Black Friday shopping.

The Mineola League of the Arts hosts its annual holiday bazaar on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2 and 3.

Mineola Main Street is hosting free carriage rides downtown at the gazebo on Friday, Dec. 2 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

The carriage can hold up to six adults for each route which takes about 10 minutes. The carriage will load on Commerce St. by the gazebo, go west on Commerce to Line St., north on Line to Kilpatrick and south on Johnson back to Commerce.

Saturday, Dec. 3 will be busy as Quitman kicks off its Hometown Christmas from noon-9 p.m. with shopping, music from Don Woods at 2 p.m., the Christmas parade at 5 p.m., a live nativity at 7 and more music at 8. There will be food trucks, kids activities, crafts, vendors and more.

Santa will be around after the parade for photos.

The Mineola Farmers Market in the downtown pavilion continues each Saturday morning through Christmas.

Mineola has selected Christmas at the Movies as the theme for its annual parade which steps off at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Graham and Broad and makes it way west, highlighted by Santa Claus.

Parade entry forms may be found on the chamber’s website.

After the parade Santa will make his way to the downtown gazebo until 7:30.

The Mineola Magical Sweets promotion involves five downtown sweet shops. Get your card punched at each for a prize drawing: Grandma Cleda’s, Bryan’s Cheesecakes, Sugarbakers, Between Friends and Farm House Fried Pies. The grand prize will be awarded at the gazebo at 8 p.m.

Merchants are competing in a window decorating contest, and many will stay open until 7:30 for shopping.

The Christmas version of the mini-train at Iron Horse Square will be running that evening, free to ride from 4-7 p.m. with a break for the parade.

On Sunday, Dec. 4 the Mineola Landmark Commission brings back its popular tour of homes from 1-5 p.m. Watch for highlights of the tour in the Monitor.

Homes include 219 N. Newsom, 1815 N. Pacific, 913 N. Johnson and 512 Sycamore. Tickets are $10 each at city hall, any stop on the tour and from commission members.

A house decorating contest will be judged in Quitman Dec. 7 and winners announced Dec. 10.

Categories include most festive, brightest, most creative reason for the season and classically beautiful.

Those living outside the city limits, can email their name and address to quitmanchamber@quitmancoc.com before Dec. 6 to have the house judged.

The following weekend the focus shifts to Alba where Christmas on the Square goes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 10.

Events include a chili cook off with judging at 2:30 p.m. No fee to enter and $5 to taste the entries from 3-5 p.m. Entries in crock pots are due at the fire station at 2 p.m.

Bounce house, axe throwing, DJ and face painting are among the highlights, culminating with the parade at 5:15.