Everything is falling into place for the two-day West Liberty Holiday Open House Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23-24, organized by the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce.
Dozens of local businesses are planning special activities and discounts to attract shoppers while many other activities will be alive in the business district area along third and fourth streets as well as at the West Liberty Public Library, according to Chamber director Jacob Lane.
The family-fun event begins Saturday with a public welcome lasagna luncheon that will include apple pie and ice cream as well as other items, served at the United Methodist Church at 113 East Fifth St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A free-will donation is being asked and all proceeds will go to the West Liberty Shop with a Cop program.
After lunch, the New Strand theatre in downtown West Liberty opens their doors to a free showing of the movie “Elf,” to include free popcorn and soda for all attendees.
“We’re very excited to be able to show this movie for free this year,” said Lane, crediting about 10 local businesses that donated toward the showing, calling it, “A Christmas miracle.”
Many local stores and restaurants will be open for holiday shopping on that Saturday as well, offering gifts, gift certificates and many have special raffle drawings as well as offering chances at a gift basket put together by the Chamber that has $200-plus in value, including Chamber bucks, which can be spent at Chamber businesses.
Sunday activities
The Holiday Open House gets into full gear on Sunday feature a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus in Ron-de-Voo Park downtown, strolling carolers from West Liberty High School, window dancers, live reindeer, an in-home business market, s’mores, fire pits, treats, refreshments and more.
Tree lighting 5:30 p.m., Sunday
One of the highlights will be the traditional Community Tree Lighting at City Hall at 5:30 p.m., concluding the Open House, where Mayor Mark Smith will give a short talk before lighting the giant tree put together by city public works employees.
Chamber President Donna Alberti will provide the welcome and introduce Smith while thanking sponsors as well. Previous to the lighting, the community is expected to gather for a holiday sing-a-long led by the West Liberty High School choir.
Trees for a Cause at Fairgrounds
Activity Center
The Muscatine County Fairgrounds will also be hosting their annual Trees for a Cause event in the Activity Center, where various businesses, organizations and families are welcome to put up trees to be viewed by the public, who are asked to make a donation to the tree they like the best, with the money to benefit various activities in the community.
The fair board will also offer a grilled pork tenderloin sack lunch from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with proceeds going toward the new fairgrounds Event Center. Fair director Kelsey Meyers said space for trees is filling fast and was still taking requests in the final days.
Inside the WeLead/Chamber building downtown, several in-home vendors will be marketing their products, plus attendees will get a chance to see some of the best artwork by West Liberty Elementary students, which will be on display after being selected by art teacher Kelsey Linch, Just outside, the Rotary Club of West Liberty will be serving free hot chocolate.
Music everywhere
Musical entertainment is scattered throughout the two blocks, with the West Liberty High School Jazz Band of Director Ashley Smith performing at 2 p.m., inside West Liberty State Bank. Attendees might nab an ornament off the tree at the bank, where the local Aquarius Club will have on display their Tree of Giving, consumers committing to buy gifts for certain underprivileged children in the community.
Bell choir at the library
At the West Liberty Public Library, the talented Bell Choir of the First Church United in West Liberty will put on a clanging holiday performance at 3:30 p.m. with representatives of MidwestOne Bank handing out free pieces of pie.
Dance performances at both studios
Both dance studios on Calhoun Street will also have performances throughout the day, with Nicole Rock’s School of Dance performing in their window and Liberty Dance Studio will have performances inside their facility.
Other things to do
Alpacas and reindeer will be on display for families to meet and get pictures on the west side of City Hall thanks to Brad Akers Robertson Realty.
Santa Claus and the Mrs. are both coming from the North Pole that day to visit children in Ron-de-Voo Park, so children are asked to bring their wish list, rewarded with a candy cane courtesy of Liberty Realty.
Another popular figure youngsters may want to get a picture with is Disney Frozen character “Olaf.” The famous snowman, sponsored by 3B’s Floral, will be wandering the downtown streets.
The Mansell L. Phillips American Legion Post 509 Building will also be open for family treats and refreshments.
El Negro Tattoo will be offering free temporary tattoos to youngsters and there will be various stations in the downtown with fire pits to not only keep warm, but also make s’mores, which will also be available.
Studio 909 will be offering tinsel hair applications and Liberty Press next door will have live printing demonstrations as letterpress printer Steve Alt opens his old-time print shop to the public.
On Sunday,The West Liberty Index office will be open to give children a chance to color while adults can look through old copies of the Index from year’s past.
Shop local
Along with promoting local shopping through Chamber Buck purchases, Lane says there are lots of stores that will not only have great ideas for holiday gift giving, including gift certificates, but will be offering treats and discounts.
He encouraged local residents to “think local first” for holiday shopping, noting it’s important to keep small town business alive and well so they continue to support local schools and organizations, provide sales tax revenues and “give back to the community.”
The Chamber director says the event gives shoppers an opportunity to “check out local stores and restaurants to see what they offer,” noting consumers might be surprised by what they can find locally before going out of town to shop or buying on the Internet.
Lane said the entire event “couldn’t be possible” without the support of local businesses including West Liberty Auto Parks – CarQuest, Brad Akers Robertson Realty, Liberty Realty, Craig A. Jones Trucking, Wertzbaugher Services, All-American Concrete, Jeff’s Market, Diane’s Dozen, Javier Gonzalez State Farm, Cardinal Signs & Graphics, West Liberty State Bank, MidwestOne Bank, Hills Bank, West Liberty Foods and the City of West Liberty.