The Wilber Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 12th Hometown Holidays 2014 Christmas event in Wilber. It will be celebrated as a Czech and American Traditional Christmas weekend at the Sokol Hall on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. Hours are Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. Noon to 6 p.m. The theme of this year’s Christmas celebration is “A Magical Christmas.”
Again this year is a polka “Dancing With The Stars” contest with local celebrities on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. On Sunday, a traditional Czech meal will be available prior to another exciting program– the 3rd Annual “Czech Theater” will be presented in the afternoon with lots of music, humor and talent, along with door prizes for scholarship funding.
There will be many nice door prizes to win; Santa Claus visits on Sat. from 9:30 to Noon, with entertainment, vendors and good food. The Wilber Lutheran Choir will sing a Cantata on Saturday. There will be the Christmas Tree Contest and display with monetary prizes and many interesting insights into the real Czech customs for the Christmas holidays, as well as celebrating traditional American Christmas traditions.
Downtown businesses decorate their windows and there are many decorated residences to see. Viewing the decorated windows is an enjoyable experience while shopping the various stores in downtown Wilber, and many families spend time traveling the streets in Wilber for their annual “Christmas Ride” just to view the residential decorations.
There will be local vendors in the Sokol Hall selling baked goods and other items for gift-giving that celebrate Czech and American traditions. Also, there will be raffles for the Chamber’s annual Christmas Wreath, two kids bicycles, and the Omaha Czech Cultural Club will be raffling off live carp fish, freshly dressed, for a traditional Christmas Eve Czech dinner.
Businesses and organizations as well as individuals, from any community may enter the Tree Contest, to vie for the monetary prizes or for business promotional or advertising purposes, with an interesting, unique and beautiful display of decorated trees for all to enjoy. Any sized real or artificial tree may be decorated. For additional details about the tree contest, contact Gwen Anderson-Beck at 821-2290.
In the spirit of Christmas giving, a free will offering or a donation of a can or package of food for the Saline County Aging Services’ food pantry will be appreciated as admission to Saturday’s activities. For details, call Event Chairman Judy Florian at 402-821-3221. Tickets to the show on Sunday may be purchased at the door. For more details about the Czech concert, contact Sue Placek at 402-641-0669.