Kick off the holiday season and come to the welcoming and picturesque towns of Lanesboro and Whalan on Small Business Saturday! These quaint towns become even more magical during the holiday season (think Hallmark movie!) with storefronts and streetlamps decorated and alit against the backdrop of the bluffs. This year there will be many free-of-charge family-friendly activities, delicious eats and drinks, unique gift shopping, and plenty of photo ops! We also heard that Santa will be making a visit....
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The activities take place in Lanesboro unless otherwise noted as Whalan. Please check back as we update with additional details and times:
• Adult & Kid Ornament Hunts: Find a special ornament hidden around Lanesboro & Whalan and bring it to the business listed on its tag to redeem for a prize!
• Christmas Carolers around town | by History Alive actors
• Free Horse-drawn Hay Wagon Rides (12-4pm along Parkway Place) | sponsored by Merchants Bank and Hero Insurance & Planning
• Free Pony Rides (12-4pm, kitty-corner from Stone Mill Hotel and Suites) | sponsored by Lanesboro Sales Barn Commission and Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce
• Catch-and-Release Fishing from the Dam to the Confluence (contact Root River Rod Co. for more info)
• Plenty of holiday photo ops!
PARKWAY PLACE
• Christmas Tree | sponsored by Lanesboro Chamber
• Tree Decoration (all day)
• Wreath Sales by Boy Scouts (10am-4pm)
• Free Goat Meet & Greet (12-4pm) | Driftless Goat Company
• Hats/Mitten/Scarves collection site
• Tree lighting (5pm)
SONS of NORWAY 12-4:30pm | Free Kids' Activities
• Winter movie featuring two sisters and a singing snowman
• Popcorn supplied by Book Trout
• Santa visit stop
• Art & Craft activities supplied by Lanesboro Arts
FIRE WARMING STATIONS:
• High Court Pub
• Home Sweet Home
• Juniper’s
• Root River Inn
• Stone Mill Hotel and Suites
• Sylvan Brewing
• Whalan Depot (inside with 1880s potbelly stove)
STORES/SHOPS open:
• Amish Experience
• Cheryl's Fabric Garden: 40% off all fabrics
• E2
• Granny's Liquor: 12-3pm Lefse-making | Liquor sampling
• Iron Horse
• Parkway Market
• Root River Rod Co: 20-30% off entire store
• Spellbound Atlier: Ornament-making using twigs, yarn, ribbon etc. | Mulled wine samples with milling spice mix for sale
• Stone Mill Clothing & Gifts: 25% off all clothing (regular-priced & clearance)
• The Peddler: Free hot cocoa & cookies
• Whalan Depot: 10am-4pm Homemade rommegrot, Norwegian cookies, hot chocolate & hot apple cider | drawings for gift certificates
• Windy Mesa: End-of-year sale
Other Activities:
• Commonweal Theatre: Alice in Winter Wonderland (showtimes 1:30pm & 7:30pm)
• Lanesboro Arts: time TBD Artist Demonstration
• Root River Inn: 1-3pm Pinecone decoration | Coffee | Bonfire Warming Station
RESTAURANTS open:
• Clara's Eatery: open 11am-8pm | Holiday food specials
• Home Sweet Home: open until 3pm | Hot chocolate bar (adult & kid options), Paint-your-own-cookie kits, Christmas cookies
• Juniper's: open 5-9pm | Chef’s Special menu with entrée, beverage pairing, & dessert (reservations recommended)
• Pedal Pushers: open 11am-7pm
BARS open:
• American Legion
• High Court Pub: open 11am-midnight | Holiday Drink Specials | Live music @ 7pm
• Sylvan Brewing: open 12-10pm
• Root River Saloon: open 11am-1am
Collection Sites (for Non-perishable foods, Winter Clothing, and Toys for local distribution). Available for drop-off beginning Monday 11/14:
• Clara's Eatery
• Granny’s Liquor
• High Court Pub
• Merchants Bank - Lanesboro branch
• Stone Mill Hotel and Suites
• Sylvan Brewing