Santa Claus to visit local children in Vergas

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The city of Vergas will transform into a winter wonderland straight out of a holiday movie on Saturday. 

The annual Small Town Christmas celebration will be held in downtown Vergas from 2:30-5 p.m. and feature everything from a Live Nativity to fire pits on Main Street to provide a little heat for all those who attend the annual celebration. 

Of course, one of the highlights of Saturday will be the jolly man in red, who will stop by downtown Vergas. Santa Claus will be visiting area children and the young at heart beginning at 2:30 p.m. Every child who visits Santa Claus will receive a gift bag full of goodies, as well as a ticket for a chance to win one of 26 grand prizes that will be given away. The grand prizes will be given away by a random drawing at 4:30 p.m. 

Another popular stop on Saturday will be the gingerbread house activity from 2:30-4 p.m. at Vergas State Bank. Those who attend can create their own gingerbread house at the bank and bring home their new creation for the holiday season. 

Small Town Saturday will also include a live nativity, live music with carols with Katie Baker, sleigh rides, as well as horses and fainting goats. Fire pits, cookies and hot cocoa will also be served on main street.

The annual lighting of the town and reading of the Christmas Story will begin at 5 p.m. as Vergas rings in the holiday season.

Sherri Hanson, who helps to organize the Small Town Christmas, said the day features a number of family-centered events for people of all ages. Since Main Street is blocked off, children and families can enjoy a nice Minnesota winter day outdoors.

In addition to the events going on throughout the day, Hanson said the Giving Tree will be set up on Saturday. The tree features gift ideas for children, who attend Frazee-Vergas School who may otherwise not receive a gift for Christmas. Each ornament on the tree will feature one gift for a local student that can be purchased and returned in time for Christmas. The goal is to help to provide Christmas cheer for families across the area,

Several Vergas area businesses will also have sales throughout Small Town Christmas. Several of the businesses and their sales are located throughout the Frazee-Vergas Forum as they get ready for a busy holiday season.

Hanson said events like Small Town Christmas help to bring people to Vergas and showcase all of the businesses that make up the area. As people stop into each business they have the chance to see what is available in their own backyard for the holidays.

Saturday will also be the kick off for the Holiday Bucks sale. The Vergas Community Club is offering Holiday Bucks again this year. For every $80 spent on Holiday Bucks, a person will receive $100 worth of the gift certificates that can be used at most Vergas area businesses. The community club pays the difference out of their funds. There is a limit of $200 per family.