Christmas kickoff to last all day
Staff writer
Marion’s third annual community Christmas celebration, complete with a 5 p.m. lighted Christmas parade on Main St., will be Saturday.
The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a Holly Jolly garage sale at Turquoise Table, 636 E. Main St.
Owner Michelle Flaming said many people had brought items to donate for the sale.
Among them are furniture, clothing and jewelry, Christmas and Halloween décor, rugs, a Michael Jordan figurine, and pool chairs.
Proceeds will help fund the Turquoise Table gathering place for fellowship and friends, which opened June 1. Besides a place to gather, it offers refreshments, Bible study, church groups, and a place to build community.
Flaming said garage sale prices would be cut in half after 11 a.m.
Jingle n’ Mingle vendors at the community center will sell decorations and gifts, handmade soaps, Pampered Chef and Tupperware items, crafts, Bill & Essie’s barbecue and more.
“Several of the booths will have Christmas stuff,” community enrichment director Margo Yates said. Vendors will offer multi-level items and handmade crafts.
“We’ve done Jingle n’ Mingle a couple more years than Holly Jolly Christmas,” Yates said. “It’s probably the fifth or sixth year for Jingle ’n’ Mingle.”
Saturday’s full schedule is:
- 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Holly Jolly garage sale at Turquoise Table.
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Jingle n’ Mingle at Marion Community Center and free sugar cookies for children at CB Baked Goods, 420 E. Main St.
- 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Downtown recorded music.
- 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Children can have photos taken with Santa at Marion City Library.
- 10:30 a.m. to noon – Gift basket raffle at Heerey Real Estate, 401 E. Main St.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Live reindeer at Historic Elgin Hotel, 115 N. Third St.
- Noon to 4 p.m. – Sleigh rides with Santa and Mrs. Claus starting next door to St. Luke Auxiliary Shop, 321 E. Main St.
- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Christmas ornament making at Elgin ballroom.
- 3 p.m. – Cookie exchange at Elgin ballroom.
- 5 p.m. – Lighted Christmas parade downtown.
- 7 p.m. – Benefit bingo for Marion County War Memorial at VFW Post 6958, 420 W. Santa Fe St.