Prairie City Farmers' Market added to WinterFEST

For the first time, the Prairie City Winter Farmers’ Market and Prairie City Celebration Commission are joining forces for the Prairie City Winter Market and WinterFEST 2018. Festivities are planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Prairie City Family Life Center, 105 S. Sherman St. and will feature kids activities, holiday crafts, a kids shopping spree and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

“This will be the first winter farmers’ market and WinterFEST combined,” organizer Kirsten Weiland said. “We’re going to bring the winter farmers’ market indoors.”

With about 11 vendors confirmed for the day, locals might not have a large choice of produce but many homemade items and baked goods will be on hand for holiday celebrations. For the kids, holiday crafts will be available to make a personal decoration and the shopping spree will be back once again, giving kids the opportunity to purchase gifts for family and friends.

“Those are items that kids can purchase for a minimal cost to give a family member or friend,” Weiland said. “It is an opportunity to buy gifts that they might not otherwise have the money for.”

Those looking to donate items for the shopping spree can drop them off at the city hall, 203 E. Jefferson St.

Going from 1 to 4 p.m., the event has extended its hours to attract a larger group of people wanting more local holiday shopping.

“By us extending it a few hours, hopefully we can grab a few more people,” Weiland said.

What could be billed as the main event, Jolly Old Saint Nick, aka Santa Claus, and Mrs. Claus will join the festivities at 2 p.m. With a knee ready, Santa will hear Christmas wishes and take a picture or two with any little one wanting to talk to the head elf.

With the new collaboration for the 2018 festival between the farmers’ market and WinterFEST, Weiland said they will assess how the event went and decide what to do in the years to come.

“Depending on how this goes we might pursue it going forward,” Weiland said.

For more information about the Prairie City Winter Market and WinterFEST, contact prairiecityfm@gmail.com or 505-447-0948.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com