LINN  — Christmas on Main Street Committee Co-Chair Shelley Klebba is thrilled with the response to the fourth annual event that included several changes.

“The committee isn’t afraid of trying new things, and we believe this was a year of examples,” she said. 

A few additions and changes included moving the ponies to Friday night and adding Cassie Twehus to the Friday night agenda. “Even moving Breakfast with Santa to the Osage County Library worked great – it was a perfect venue. Each year, we learn from the past and make adjustments as we see fit.”

In addition to various activities on Friday night, including caroling by members of the Mint Hill Mennonite Choir, Linn Mayor Dwight Massey offered words of encouragement before the tree-lighting ceremony.

“I cannot even begin to tell you what it means to me to be part of this community, to represent this community, and to see the people, faces, friends, everybody here, enjoying their time, having an evening of community togetherness,” he said. “It’s amazing to see all the smiles, especially in our kids. Thank you so much for making Linn and Osage County a wonderful place to be.”

Massey added that since moving to Linn, the community has welcomed him and made it home.

“You’ve made it very special for me, and I want to thank you,” he said. “We’re going to have a tree lighting to symbolize the kickoff of the Christmas season here in Linn and to symbolize the fact that as a community, we celebrate these young people right here and everyone having a great time.”

During Breakfast with Santa, 113 kids and 80 adults partook in the complimentary breakfast provided by Kevin Ousley and Kristen Peters of Linn Thriftway. 

Santa greeted another 40 youngsters at the Osage County Historical Center. For the third year, the Osage County Agritourism Council had a Christmas tree decorated with mittens and a table with small toys. On Thursday, those mittens will be removed from the tree and donated to Osage Caring Project for inclusion in its Christmas distribution to Osage County children during Friday’s drop-off event at the Osage County Community Center.

On Saturday, several outside organizations held events that paired well with the weekend’s activities. 

Klebba noted the Linn Community Betterment Association’s “Tis the Season Market” at St. George School was well received. All donations of non-perishable food items collected by the Christmas on Main Street Committee at the market will be taken to the Good Shepherd Food Pantry for those in need. Linn High School seniors offered a scavenger hunt for teens to participate in with friends. Old School Antique Mall offered an Open House with holiday activities, and the Linn Football Club held a junior high dance Friday night.

“Even though there were additions and changes, there was consistency,” said Klebba. “Local churches were consistent with programs through music and lights, displays of nativity scenes and villages, and programs allowing you to see what it was like in Bethlehem back in the days of Jesus’ birth.”

Home tours were an as big hit as they’ve been every year. “They keep people coming back,” said Klebba. “The Linn Lions Club always does a nice job handling the parade entries and the awards afterward.”

Award-winners this year in the “Santa’s Workshop” themed parade were Linn Scouts (first), Rudy Lane Farm/Art House (second), and Linn FFA (third).

As in previous years, the Osage County Historical Society engaged with local county communities (St. Aubert, Mint Hill, Judge, Meta, and Cooper Hill communities, and Osage Agritourism) to bring Christmas trees to life with stories and ornaments from the past in their respective towns.

This year’s gingerbread house contest, sponsored by the UD and Frontline Printing, had three entries. 

UD Managing Editor Connie Warden said she was pleased to host the event. “We wanted to host the gingerbread house contest this year because we have the room to spread the houses out,” she noted. “Since we have those nice big tables in the back, we felt this was the perfect place to display the finished houses.”

The few entries may be attributed to various issues, including illness and timing. “We have heard of a lot of sickness, and even though it was well advertised and the word was out there, time kind of snuck up on people,” said Warden. “We look forward to next year and are already thinking of ways to improve the contest. We want to reach out to community members and involve them in the event. We have also discussed having a decorated cookie contest in conjunction with the gingerbread houses. The contest could include perhaps decorated sugar cookies and/or gingerbread people.”

Winners Lily Baker and Arthur Massman received goodie bags with candy, a mug, hot chocolate, a fuzzy throw, and gift certificates — one to Busy Bean and the other to Sweet Bee’s.

Committee members have a wrap-up meeting scheduled in early January to make notes of any changes and suggestions for 2023.