There’s no place like Hometown for the Holidays | Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

There’s No Place Like Hometown For the Holidays

Home. It is such a small word for such a big meaning. For some, home is Grandma’s driveway and the nostalgic smell of a wood-burning fireplace. For others, home is that familiar glow of a kitchen light and the way their lover’s eyes dance when they laugh. For others still, home is wherever family, friends and traditions are. One thing we can all agree on- there is no place like “home” for the holidays.

Owatonna, with all its charm, has done its best once again to let tradition reign. Which means all the stops have been pulled to make certain there is no other place to be than our Hometown for the Holidays.

Shop Local

Everything begins the day after Thanksgiving! After the turkey and mashed potatoes have settled, Black Friday has arrived with all of its crazy deals- local Owatonna businesses are no exception. This year, most of the local Owatonna businesses have come together for a month of deals. That’s right- an entire month! Shop Owatonna will be occurring November 24th-December 24th. “We wanted to showcase all the local businesses in Owatonna,” says Connie, one of the main coordinators of the event. “Not only is it fun as a customer, but it supports the community. So everyone wins.”

Participating businesses will be passing out cards with all information needed. These special cards are the golden ticket, whenever you make purchases at any of these businesses, they will be punched. Once filled, you leave it at the business at which the final punch was made and it is added to a drawing. You can have an unlimited amount of cards put into this drawing, the grand prize being $500 to spend at any and all the businesses participating in this Shop Owatonna event.

The extra special day in this month is Small Business Saturday, November 25th. This is a day a home town can be proud of! If you aren’t able to spend your time shopping downtown on Black Friday, never fear! Saturday is your day to show small businesses all the love. In addition to special deals, many of downtown Owatonna’s businesses will have fun free goodies to pass out, along with grateful hearts. When you choose to shop to somewhere “small”, it means a very large amount to each owner and worker. It doesn’t get much more hometown than that.

Lighted Holiday Parade

Thursday, November 30th, 6:00pm

This unique parade is the official launch to Hometown Holiday Weekend which encompasses holiday events around town between November 30 and December 3. Since the beginning of this Owatonna tradition, Mrs. Claus has been here. “It began with 5-6 floats, and then kept on growing!” Starting at North Cedar Ave in downtown Owatonna, the Lighted Holiday Parade travels to Central Park then around and onto West Park Square, where it again ends at the Park. “This year we have 31 floats registered,” says Mrs. Claus. “I’ll be riding in the Wagon with Santa. Years before I have ridden in a carriage, and once a limo! I have to put up with elves all year, I think I should get that limo back!” From firetrucks to bicycles, there are always surprises at this family tradition-worthy parade. The excitement continues after the parade as the switch to light up the trees in the park is flipped, the Owatonna High School Carolers perform and cider and hot chocolate is passed out freely to all who come. Nothing says “Welcome” to the holiday season quite like this beloved town tradition.

Christmas In the Village

December 1st (Fri 4:30 – 8pm) and 2nd (Sat 10am-2pm)

This beloved event seems to get better and better every year! Hosted by the Steele County Historical Society, Christmas in the Village is located in the Village of Yesteryear, which is completely transformed for the holidays. Live music will be heard from the church, the historical Dunnell House and in the History Center. Kids can enjoy many festive crafts including Graham Cracker Houses and Hot Cocoa Gift Kits. As you walk around the village, you may run into the King and Queen of Sweets, Mrs. Claus, or even Santa himself! Decorate your cookie (this isn’t just for the kids), go on a horse-drawn carriage ride and don’t forget to head to the History Center to check out many more activities and the newest addition to the festivities- a Gingerbread House contest! “Bakers from all around Steele County have taken a historical building and turned it into a gingerbread house,” says Stephanie Kibler, the special events manager at the Historical Society. “The public can vote for the best one, and even bid on it to take home! Easily the best centerpiece anyone could have!” Another special part of this years Christmas in the Village will be the unveiling of their new mascot, Nickel, and the scavenger hunt attached to it. Bundle up with some friends, or bundle up the kiddos- this event will have everyone glowing with holiday cheer by the end.

Historic Holiday Home Tour

Sunday, December 3rd: Noon-5pm

Homes are often the heart of the holidays, and this event takes us straight into them. There are 7 stops on this years Historic Holiday Home Tour, with a couple of non-traditional surprises. This year in addition to 2 older and 2 newer homes, St. Paul’s Episcopalian Church and Cottage 11 at the Orphanage Museum are opening its doors to the public. “Churches are a home to people of faith, and the orphanage has been a home to so many in the past,” says Patty Jessop, the coordinator of this fun event. Patty, along with her hard-working assistant Cheryl, have both been a previous stop for this hometown tradition. “Its such a fun thing to open your home and share your family traditions with others. With the older homes, chances are there are people in the community that have lived here longer than you, and then you get to hear stories from them about your home before you lived there!” This years stops will also include the traditional Dunnell House at the Village of Yesteryear, a 1927 “Mini-Mansion”, a beautiful brick home built in 1939, a remodeled home with its very own “Malt Shop”, and family home that thrives on decorating for the holidays. Each home has its own special decorations, traditions, stories and, quite possibly, treats. This event is the perfect excuse to get a car full of friends together and become inspired by the decor and the stories. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in Owatonna through the Steele County Historical Society, Kottke Jewelers, Tri M Graphics, and any of the homes the day of the tour.

Bonus! Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

Tuesday, December 5th: 4:00pm

Since 2009, every other year Owatonna has had a treat of a lifetime chugging through- a completely lit-up train! While technically after Hometown Holiday Weekend, The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is making a stop in Owatonna once again this year and this is a magical spectacle for everyone. Fire chief Mike Johnson has been the coordinator for this event since the Holiday Train’s first stop in Owatonna. “It is such a fun event to watch the community come together for and share the Christmas spirit.” In addition to the beautiful train, there are cozy fires to warm up by, hot beverages to share, live entertainment and, most importantly, the chance to help our local food shelf. “Everything about this event is fun, but the greatest part is getting to give to our food shelf and watching the community come together to help with that through actual food donations or financial contributions.” The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train puts on quite a spectacular show, but in addition presents a check to each local food shelf from the Railroad. This special event is a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays and remember what it is truly about- giving back. The train will be at 1145 Park Drive near the Owatonna Bus Company.

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Maybe Owatonna is “home” for your holidays, or maybe you want to come partake in the fun! Either way, Owatonna is making sure it feels like a Hometown Holiday celebration. Because we all know, there is no feeling, or place, like home for the holidays.

For a complete calendar of Hometown Holiday Weekend events click here.

Staying in town for the weekend? Check out our places to stay and how to get here.