Saturday, December 11 will be Garretson's Hometown Christmas celebration. All are invited to the event, which begins with a Community Appreciation Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and will end that evening with the Parade of Lights. During the entire weekend, local merchants will have special hours and sales.
To kick off Saturday's events, the Garretson Commercial Club will be hosting the Community Appreciation Breakfast with help from the Legion. They will be serving french toast and sausage.
A free will donation will be accepted for the meal, and proceeds will go towards a sound system that will be placed on Main Street. The sound system will be wired to play music during the holiday and summer seasons and will allow announcements to be heard from 2nd Street to 4th Street during parades and other celebrations. The Commercial Club is working hard to have the system in place in the next year or two. Wine tastings from Humble Hill Winery will be held at the Treasure Chest for a free will donation to the sound system that afternoon from noon until 2, as well.
The Treasure Chest will be open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Both days they are having a sale on Melissa and Doug toys and Mastercraft puzzles, and on Saturday any donation to the food pantry between 10:00 a.m. and noon will receive a ticket to the Kids' Arts and Crafts event.
The Kids' Arts and Crafts event will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the school with crafting tickets available at $1 per ticket or 6 for $5. Storytime with Garrick will be from 1:30 until 2:30, and Santa Claus will also be present from 1:00 until 3:00 and accepting letters from children. Letters with a return address may receive a reply!
Santa letters will also be accepted at Light the Park, a festival of lights at Split Rock Park that is open Thursdays through Sundays all month (and other weekdays as volunteers are available). Santa himself is scheduled to be there enjoying the lights and handing out treats after the parade! Freewill donations toward Light the Park go towards park beautification and improvement, and ensuring next year's event is just as spectacular.
Spectacular gifts can be found at the Holiday Vendor Fair, which will be at the Legion from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
And speaking of gifts, Treatment for Toys will be held at Palisades Chiropractic from 9:00 a.m. until noon, a yearly event by Dr. Nick Schotzko that benefits both the person donating and local children. Those who donate a new toy can claim a spot that morning for an adjustment. The elves say to snag that spot early, as they go fast!
The Garretson Food Center will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, and they'll be hosting a contest where five winners will receive a $25 gift certificate.
Tucker's Walk Vineyard will be hosting wine tastings and special snacks at their tasting room located two miles southwest of Garretson on Highway 11 from noon until 8:00 p.m.
The Garretson Museum will also be open on Saturday, December 11 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Donut holes, coffee, and cider will be available, and a contest to guess the number of pieces of candy in a jar will net the winner the entire jar!
That afternoon, the fire department will be having fire truck rides and the Kringen family will be having horse-drawn buggy rides around town. Both begin at 1:00 p.m. and go until 3:00 p.m. with lines beginning in front of the fire department building.
To finish off the day-long celebration, a Parade of Lights will be on Main Street from 5th Street to 2nd Street. The community is encouraged to make a float or decorate a horse, tractor, truck, or themselves with lights and have fun.
The Sports Cabin, The Combine, and The Gulch will all be open for dinner with happy hour and food specials. Jesse James Country Store and Palisades Oil will also be open for any convenience needs.
Plan for a fun-filled day for all ages! The full schedule can be found below and on-line at VisitGarretsonSD.com/hometown-christmas.
Hometown Christmas
December 10th-11th, 2021
Friday, Dec. 10th
10:00am–5:00pm The Treasure Chest–20% off Melissa & Doug toys & Mastercraft puzzles.
5:00pm– 10:00pm Light the Park – Split Rock Park
6:30am-Close Sports Cabin – Fri and Sat Happy Hour 4:00pm-6:00pm, Food Specials
Saturday, Dec. 11th
7:00am–9:00pm Garretson Food Center – Register for one of five, $25 GFC gift cards to be given away.
9:00am–Noon FREE CUSTOMER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST at the American Legion- French Toast, Sausage and Beverage. Free Will donation for the Garretson Main Street sound system.
9:00am-3:00pm Garretson Museum - FREE donut holes, coffee and cider. Guess the number of candy pieces in jar and win the jar.
9:00am–2:00pm Holiday Vendor Fair at the Legion
9:00am–Noon Treatment for Toys at Palisades Chiropractic – Stop in with a New Toy worth $15 or more and get a FREE Treatment! Toys will be donated locally.
9:00am–Noon Food Pantry Item for Free Craft ticket - Drop off a Food Pantry item at The Treasure Chest and receive 1 FREE ticket per food item for Kids Crafts at the School Commons (max 5 Free tickets).
10:00am -5:00pm The Treasure Chest – 20% off Melissa & Doug toys & Mastercraft puzzles. Stop in and sample our new freezer dried products.
11:30 am “Shop Garretson First” drawings at the Legion.
1:30pm-2:30pm Story Time at the School by Garrick Moritz.
1:00pm–3:00pm Kids Christmas Crafts with Santa Claus present ‘til 3:00 pm at the Garretson School Commons ($1 per craft). Kids, bring your letters for Santa Claus.
Noon–8:00pm Tucker’s Walk Vineyard –2 miles West on Hwy 11 at 48348 254th St. Wine tasting and special snacks available along with specialty wine drinks.
Noon–2:00pm Humble Hill Winery- Wine tasting at the Treasure Chest with a Free Will donation for the Garretson Main Street Sound System
1:00 pm–3:00pm Fire Truck Rides & Kringen Horse Rides (weather permitting) Line up for rides at the Fire Station.
5:00pm–10:00pm Light the Park- Splitrock Park with Santa present 6:00-7:30pm with treats
6:30pm Christmas Parade of Lights - line-up on 5th Street facing West. Parade begins at City Hall. Light up your horse, dog, tractor, truck/car, make a float, etc. No registration necessary. Call John 594-3423.
6:30am-Close Sports Cabin – Fri and Sat Happy Hour 4:00pm-6:00pm, Food Specials
4:00pm –Close The Combine – Prime Rib Special
11:00am-Close The Gulch – Check for weekend food special
Merchant Weekend Hours: Garretson Food Center: Fri. & Sat. 7am-9pm, Sun 9am-6pm Garretson Museum: Sat. 9am-3pm Humble Hill Winery: Sat. at Treasure Chest- Noon-2:00pm Tucker’s Walk Winery: Sat Noon-8pm The Combine: Fri. 4pm-close, Sat. 7am-close, Sun. 7am-close Palisades Oil: daily 7:00am – 8:00pm Jesse James: daily 6am-11pm The Gulch: daily - noon to close The Sports Cabin: Fri. 6:30am-close w/Happy Hour 4-6pm, Sat. & Sun. 8am-close The Treasure Chest: Fri. 10am–5pm, Sat. 10am-5pm
