Pioneer Village Christmas opens 4-day run

The Christmas spirit returns to Le Mars as Pioneer Village Christmas opens for its two weekend run this Saturday, Dec. 3.

The village and Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars will be open 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, and again Dec. 10 and 11. All activities at the event are free, but freewill donations are most appreciated.

Children will want to make a stop to visit with Santa Claus at the Sportman's Club in the village, as well as the Toy Store, where each child may choose a stuffed toy to take home.

At the Saloon, visitors may join in an old-fashioned sing-along while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. The Le Mars Fire Department and the Powder Players Snowmobile Club will host the marshmallow roast in the village.

New this year is a Live Nativity, with performances at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. each evening. The nativity is located under the bingo roof.

At Century Hall, more than 50 trees have been decorated by various organizations, clubs, businesses and churches to get everyone in the spirit of the holidays. In the hall, Le Mars service clubs will serve coffee, chocolate milk, orange drink, cookies, popcorn and popcorn balls.

A full lineup of entertainment is planned for this weekend in Century Hall.

Saturday's entertainment includes: 5:30 p.m. Remnants - Shirley Jacobson, Terry Durr, and Marlin Albright; 6:30 p.m. Akron Care Center Bell Ringers with director Roxanne Larson and activities director Norma Wendt; 7:30 p.m. - Members of the United Methodist Church of Le Mars; 8 p.m. Girls Scouts of Le Mars area.

Sunday's entertainment includes: 5:30 p.m. Sarah and Lindsey Oetken, vocal, accompanied by Marlys Renken; 6 p.m. - St. Joseph's Bell Ringers, Struble - directed Suzy Kessenich; 6:30 p.m. Stanton Lucky Clovers 4-H Club with leaders Steve and Lynn Breuer, and Andrew and Donna Stevenson; 7 p.m. Jim Hoff, vocal, accompanied by Jeanette Jensen; and 8 p.m. Megan Moritz, vocal, accompanied by Sarah Hodgson.

Another favorite of young and old are the horse-drawn wagon rides around the fairgrounds and decorated village.

Hot dogs will be served Saturday, Dec. 3, with ham sandwiches served on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Volunteers have been busy at the fairgrounds since October checking over hundreds of strings of lights and sorting through decorations. An outdoor workday on Nov. 6 brought volunteers together to put lights on the buildings, with assistance from Northwest REC which provided a boom truck.

This year the Pioneer Village Christmas was awarded $2,000 in Hotel/Motel Tax funds.

"In addition to our own Plymouth County residents, we get people from Sioux, Woodbury and Cherokee counties," said Arlan Heeren, who is coordinating with a number of volunteers to see that the event goes off without a hitch.

"I know of Sioux City families who tell me they wouldn't miss it."

Area businesses are also supportive of the event with donations, which are needed to cover refreshments, heat and electricity for the nights of Christmas fun.