Families invited to continue traditions with Milford's Holiday Fantasy celebration

Milford will host its annual Holiday Fantasy event Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5.
(File photos)

Friday, Dec. 4

3:30 - 7 p.m. Family Fun Run

5-8 p.m. Festival of Trees - Library

5-8 p.m. Cookie Walk at Union Memorial Church

Saturday, Dec. 5

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Cookie Walk at Union Memorial Church

10 a.m. New Veggie Tales holiday movie showing at New Journey Community Church

10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Festival of Trees - Library

10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Library Open House with Santa, holiday crafts for kids and stories with Mrs. Claus from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Noon Free Chili and Soup Feed - Community Center

12:30 p.m. Raffle Prize Giveaway - Community Center

1 & 4 p.m. Merchant Movie at Pioneer Theatre

1-4 p.m. Bake and Craft Sale at Heritage Landing

Holiday traditions continue in Milford this December as the Milford Commercial Club hosts its annual Holiday Fantasy event on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5.

Holiday Fantasy chairs Sherri Barnett and Mary Dannatt have been working hard to keep the event's activities on the calendar so area families can continue their traditions surrounding the holiday festival.

"A lot of the traditions that I remember from growing up here have stopped," said Barnett. "I want this holiday tradition our community to continue."

Dannatt says the annual celebration is a great way to kick off the season.

"I love the holiday season, and I love the fact that this gets everybody in town together for a meal to kick off the holiday season," said Dannatt. "Hopefully some of the raffle prizes this year will give people the incentive to shop locally this holiday season."

The celebration kicks off on Friday with the family fun run. Other Friday events include the Festival of Trees with musical entertainment and refreshments along with a cookie walk sponsored by Union Memorial Church.

On Saturday, the Festival of Trees and cookie walk continue, and the Milford Library hosts and event-filled open house. Saturday's activities continue with two of Holiday Fantasy's most popular events - the chili and soup feed and the raffle prize giveaway.

"Raffle tickets went out to businesses on Nov. 9," said Barnett. "We have the big prizes finalized."

Family Fun Run

A family fun run will be held Friday, Dec. 4 during the annual town celebration, providing an ice breaker event to bring families into Milford businesses. Children must be accompanied by an adult, but adults may participate alone. The fun run takes place from 3:30 until 7 p.m. on Friday.

"We have a list of 11 locations in Milford that have agreed to participate," said Dannatt. "When participants get to a location, they will be asked to perform a task - for example, eat a piece of fruit cake or sing a Christmas Carol... The Family Fun Run will begin at the Milford Memorial Library where the 'families' will register and receive a list of participating businesses. They will have from 3:30 until 7 p.m. to visit the businesses and then from 7 until 7:30 p.m. to meet back at the Milford Community Center where we will determine the winners."

At each location, participants will receive a playing card and the families with the best hands will be awarded prizes.

Prizes for the fun run include an 11x14 family portrait package, a pizza a month for a year, a season pass to Horseshoe Bend and a $50 gift certificate to Mill Creek.

"We're hoping to have lots of families come out and join us," said Dannatt.

Festival of Trees

The Milford Library staff is chairing the 2009 Holiday Fantasy Festival of Trees with trees on display throughout the library. Library staff will administer the registration of trees and will also arrange for refreshments and entertainment.

From 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4th, enjoy dimmed lights while you wander through aisles of books and decorated trees, sample refreshments from the Friends of the Library, and enjoy the music of Route 86. This event is free and open to all. Those who are wanting to display a tree should contact Library Director Tena Hanson at (712) 338-4643.

The trees will also be on display Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Kid's Activities

Milford's Holiday Fantasy celebration is a family event, featuring activities for all ages. At the Milford Library, the Holiday Fantasy open house goes from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Friends of the Library Foundation volunteers will be providing refreshments. Santa will be there from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to hear what all of the good boys and girls want for Christmas this year. If you want to have a picture taken with Santa, be sure to bring a camera. Also beginning at 11:30 a.m., the library will be having stories with Mrs. Claus, and crafts for the kids.

A pair of movies are also offered for kids during the weekend. At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, New Journey Community Church will show the new Veggie Tales holiday movie. In the afternoon, at 1 and 4 p.m., the Pioneer Theatre will show its annual merchant movie.

Soup and Chili feed

One of the most highly attended community events in the city of Milford is Holiday Fantasy's annual free soup and chili feed. This year's event will begin at noon in the Milford Community Room. Businesses have been asked to donate soup or chili for the event, and the entries will be judged.

Raffle

Immediately following the soup and chili feed, the raffle begins at 12:30 p.m. Top prizes for the raffle include $500 in groceries, $300 in gas, $200 in Milford Bucks and a leather recliner donated by Klaussner Home Furnishings of Milford. Well over 100 raffle gifts are expected from participating businesses, and raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the chili and soup feed prior to the drawing.

Holiday Food Drive

Beginning now and running through Dec. 6, the Milford Commercial Club is also hosting a holiday food drive to help fill the Dickinson County food bank at Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. Nonperishable food contributions may be left at Boji Cenex, Pioneer Printing or Melanders.