The community of Waukon has a full schedule of events in place as the holiday season jumps into full gear. From an ongoing local shopping promotion to a busy day of Holiday Shop Hop and other events and activities this Saturday, December 6, area residents and visitors can join in the multitude of events described below:
• The Waukon Chamber of Commerce is currently hosting its “Ringing in the Holidays” local shopping promotional event through December 24 this year in an effort to keep business local for the holiday season. A drawing will be held after the New Year for three winners in the promotion.
Those shopping in local participating businesses during that promotional timeframe are invited to fill up as many $200 Punch Cards as they can with purchases from one or more Waukon Chamber of Commerce merchants found on the back of the punch cards. Participating merchants will punch or initial above the punch image to confirm the punch card’s $10 incremental value of purchase total. A QR code to scan is included on punch cards for a list of participating businesses.
When filled, shoppers should sign their name and include their phone number on each card before dropping off as many filled $200 Punch Cards as they have to any of the participating merchants in Waukon. For additional information, contact Waukon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Halverson at 563-568-4110 or email waukonchamber@gmail.com.
• Make a list and check it off at Waukon businesses during the Holiday Shop Hop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, December 6. Bring family, friends and a “Ringing in the Holidays” punch card for a Saturday holiday shopping experience in Waukon. In addition to holiday sales at retail locations, a variety of vendors and craft sales will be available at the Holiday Craft Show taking place at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Be sure to visit Santa Claus at Hello Sunshine during the Holiday Shop Hop and enjoy Zion United Church of Christ’s Annual Cookie Walk being held that morning from 8:30-10 a.m. See the Entertainment section on Page 4 of this week’s edition for additional details.
• Wrap up the Saturday, December 6 festivities with Waukon’s Lighted Holiday Parade which starts at 6 p.m. Lighted floats, vehicles, side-by-sides or other creative avenues decorated and created by local community or school groups, organizations and businesses will travel through town on a route similar to last year.
Feel free to bring a non-perishable food item for the First Presbyterian Church Food Drive. First Presbyterian Church members walking in the parade will collect food items.
The parade route will start at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds and travel from the rear entrance of the Fairgrounds for one block south on First Street NE to 7th Avenue NE and then west to Allamakee Street, where the parade will turn left and then head south to the stoplight intersection in downtown Waukon before turning right and heading west up Main Street, ultimately ending at the First Presbyterian Church at the intersection of West Main Street and Second Street SW.
Line-up for parade entries will begin at 5 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. Participants are invited to register their parade float by December 4. Questions can be directed to the Waukon Chamber of Commerce at waukonchamber@gmail.com or at 563-568-4110 or Linda Mahr at 563-794-1663. Following the parade, walk over to the Plaza for the Christmas tree lighting, a new addition to the holiday festivities downtown.