Santa's Helpers prep for upcoming season

Santa’s Helpers are busy preparing for his annual trek to Kimball and they have a busy and fun-filled season planned!

“We are bringing back a lot of events that I used to do when I was at the Chamber,” board member Kim Baliman said. “We really do think this is going to be a fun, small-town Christmas event.”

Some of those events include a tour of homes, the Mr. and Mrs. Scrooge contest, a wreath/tree auction, the table setting contest and, of course, the Parade of Lights.

“They are trying to tie the theme into the Farmer’s Day theme,” Baliman said. “We really hope that people will keep their floats and use it for the parade of lights, we are really hoping to grow that.”

Organizers for the parade are Maggie Laughlin, Regan Hinton and Laura Perry. These ladies, and their helpers, will be working with the Goodhand Theater Oct. 28-30, according to Baliman.

“They will announce the theme then, as Farmer’s Day is fresh in everyone’s minds,” Baliman said. “We hope they will re-purpose or recycle their (Farmer’s Day) floats for the Parade of Lights.”

This group of local volunteers have planned some new events as well, including the Jingle Bell Market, story and cookie decoration with Santa, a father-daughter dance, a chili cook-off, a gingerbread contest and more.

Individual donations are being sought to make all of these events successful. Checks can be made to Santa’s Helpers and mailed to 704 Marian or given to board members Kim Baliman, Angie Haun or Robert Snyder.

“We want to make this a fun Christmas season for all – young and not so young,” Baliman said. “It is not to early to be thinking on your float and the residential lighting contest, do it before it is 10 below.”