Tonight
Get those Letters to Santa written tonight!
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This Weekend
Winter Solstice Market
Friday • December 8 • 6:00 – 9:00pm
Saturday • December 9 • 10:00am – 4:00pm
The Winterset Livery
Savor the sights, sounds and scents of the holiday season while shopping for handcrafted items for everyone on your list at the Winter Solstice Market.
On Friday evening, there will be live music from Day’s Live Music, as well as a cash bar and two vendor giveaways every 15 minutes (must be present to win)! Off the Griddle will also be parked outside so make a whole evening of it. (Send the non-shoppers in your family down the street to Graham’s Game Café so you can enjoy your shopping free of distractions!)
The Nutcracker
December 9 – 11
Winterset Ballet & Dance
Enjoy this timeless holiday classic about a young girl, Clara, celebrating Christmas with her family, the Stahlbaums. When she receives a Nutcracker from her Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, this sets off a memorable evening of magical events and characters.
Winterset Ballet and Dance Studio will present six performances of The Nutcracker from December 9-December 11 at the Iowa Theater. Each performance features of a different cast of dancers so if you have a favorite dancer(s) you want to see, be sure to check to see which cast(s) includes your favorite dancer! https://buy.tututix.com/WintersetBalletandDanceStudioLLC
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Holiday Tour of Homes
Saturday • December 9 • 11:00 – 6:00
Benefiting CRISP
The much-anticipated Christmas Tour of Homes is this Saturday. For two more days tickets can be purchased at: Spoons Full of Sugar Boutique, Pine Creek, Madison County Mercantile, Re:Home, Madison County Chamber, Madison County Realty and Salon 107. On Saturday, tickets can only be purchased in-person at Easton’s Bistro at The Delirium. Lunch and Dinner will be available at Easton’s, as well as complimentary cookies & coffee provided by Easton’s and Madison County Realty.
All proceeds from this event are going to support CRISP (Community Resources in Service to People). The mission of CRISP is to guide families to resources that will enhance the well being of children and families. They work to ensure greater family stability and ready to learn children. A few of the programs that the Tour of Homes will help fund include: School supplies for kids, Winter Wear 4 Kids, and Christmas for kids. Other programs they assist include help with utility/rent payments and working closely with The Paw Pantry to provide additional food source for families. When you purchase your ticket you will get to tour 7 amazing homes AND help CRISP fund their programs.
Santa on the Hill
Saturday • December 9 • 1:30 – 3:30pm
Madison County Historical Complex
Santa will once again be making his annual visit to The Hill, and he can’t wait to hear what everyone wants for Christmas! Kids will receive a treat to take home (limited quantities) and adults are invited to bring a phone or camera to snap a quick photo of this special holiday moment.
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Ecumenical Lessons, Carols & Reflections Service
Sunday • December 10 • 4:00pm
First United Methodist Church, 309 E Jefferson
Four Winterset congregations—First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church & Winterset Foursquare Church—are joining together to create a celebration of the Advent Season featuring music, scripture and original reflections. The community is invited to attend this celebration of the season held on December 10th, 4:00pm, at Winterset First United Methodist Church, 309 E Jefferson. There is no admission charge and all are welcome.
Holiday Lights on the Hill
Every night through January 1st
Madison County Historical Society
Load up the car and take a drive on the museum complex loop to enjoy lights and displays throughout the Madison County Historical Complex. This is a free event but donations in the mailbox are always appreciated to help defray the costs.
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Next Week
History on the Hill o’ Beans
Tuesday • December 12 • 9:00am
Madison County Historical Complex
Head up ‘the hill’ to the Madison County Historical on the second Tuesday of each month for a short presentation on a historic topic and to share your insights. This month’s Hill O’ Beans topic is “Toy Story”. Bring a toy from your childhood, or your favorite memory of it, to share with the group!
Christmas Bird Count
Thursday • December 14
Madison County Conservation
Volunteers are needed for the 8th Annual Northeast Madison County Christmas Bird Count on Thursday, December 14, 2023. Teams of birders (all levels welcome!) will split up to cover different areas of the count circle, keeping a tally of which species and how many are observed. It’s a great way to explore the Madison County countryside and enjoy the company of fellow birders! Volunteers may choose to volunteer for the entire day, morning only, or afternoon only.
If you live within the Madison County Circle, you may participate by counting birds that visit your backyard bird feeders during that time and reporting the information to the conservation board.
If you would like to participate, contact Tanner Donovan at tdonovan@madisoncounty.iowa.gov or 515-250-8271. Volunteers will receive more detailed information.
The annual Christmas Bird Count has been conducted every year since 1900, and now there are over 2,500 count circles in North America and beyond. The Christmas Bird Count is designed to gather a “snapshot” of bird population data by enlisting volunteers nation-wide to help survey the birds in their area. As each organization registers to help with the bird count, they are assigned a 15-mile diameter in their area where they are responsible for conducting a one-day bird count survey. The survey is conducted by local volunteer bird watchers who record the birds they see or hear in a certain area throughout the day.
At the end of the day the data from the survey is submitted to the national database and is compiled by the National Audubon Society. Each organization conducts a one-day bird survey in their assigned area between December 14th and January 5th. The survey is conducted annually using the same bird count circle and birding routes in order to show population trends.
To learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, visit: https://www.audubon.org/conserv…/join-christmas-bird-count
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Holiday Concert
Madison County Community & Youth Choirs
Sunday • December 17 • 6:00pm
First United Methodist Church, 309 E Jefferson
The spirit of the season comes alive as the Madison County Community and Youth Choirs join forces for a magical holiday concert. This collaborative concert showcases the musical talent and community spirit that define Madison County. The choirs, comprised of dedicated singers of all ages, have been diligently preparing to deliver a heartwarming and memorable performance that captures the essence of the holiday season.
The concert program will feature a delightful selection of favorite Christmas carols. The highlight of the evening will be a spectacular rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, a timeless masterpiece that has become synonymous with the holiday season.
As a special treat, the Madison County Community Choir extends an open invitation to any interested singers in the audience to join in on the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. This inclusive opportunity encourages community members to be part of the musical celebration and share in the joy of creating beautiful music together.
“This holiday concert is a celebration of community, music, and the joy of the season,” said Megan Barrett, director of the Madison County Community and Youth Choirs. “We invite everyone to join us for an evening of festive melodies, camaraderie, and the timeless tradition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.”
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Coming Soon
Living Nativity
Wednesday & Thursday • December 20 & 21 • 6:00 – 8:00pm
Winterset United Methodist Church
at Madison County Historical Complex
Community Christmas Dinner
Monday • December 25 • Noon
First United Methodist Church
Adult Coed Volleyball
The Adult Coed Volleyball League is coming up in January—Join a team and get registered here: https://tinyurl.com/m4zs3t84
It’s a GREAT day to be a Winterset Citizen—
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