Mineola Main Street ready for Christmas season

(Courtesy photo)

Main Street Board Members Nic Watkins and Pat Hamlett were among those who helped decorate downtown for Christmas.

Posted Wednesday, November 25, 2020 2:31 pm

Mineola Main Street board members and city crews have been busy getting downtown Mineola and city parks ready for the holidays.

Main Street will also sponsor hayrides in downtown ahead of the chamber Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 1:30-4:30 p.m.

And downtown businesses can join in the festive atmosphere by entering the window decorating contest.

The Christmas lights will be turned on Thanksgiving evening. The Main Street board has adorned the downtown bushes and gazebo while Bill Brittain and the city crew have been sprucing up the parks at Peterson Park, Iron Horse Square, the Highway 69/37 Mini Park and entrances on the south and west ends of town.

Dallas Nichols has agreed to offer his tractor and trailer for hayrides which will take the same route around downtown as the horse and carriage rides have in years past. In light of the fact Main Street’s biggest fundraiser (the Wine Train) was canceled and in respect of protocols for social distancing, the board voted not to sponsor the horse and carriage rides this year.

The loading dock on the back of the Mineola Historical Museum (the old post office) will once again be the site of a beautiful display and fantastic photo opp. For those who visit, be sure and take time enjoying the display to not miss any special features. However, this year there will not be a Santa Day at the museum due to the potential risks involved.

The window decorating contest will be judged on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. The contest mirrors the theme of the chamber of commerce Christmas parade, which this year, is “Hometown Christmas.” Judges will select the best decorated window for the categories of Best Theme, Spirit of Christmas and Most Festive in downtown. Certificates and bragging rights will be awarded with winners’ photos posted on the city’s social media.

While downtown, check out the windows across the street from Select Theater to catch a glimpse of St. Nick.

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Symphonic band presents Christmas concert

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Come on over to Mineola’s beautiful Historic Select Theater and hear the Lake Country Symphonic Band’s Christmasy “Everything Christmas” concert.

Concerts are Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. and Tuesday evening, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Mike Holbrook is back in the director’s seat, so it’s sure to be a fun-filled couple of hours.