LAKE MILLS — A holiday tradition in Lake Mills will continue as the town hosts its Holiday Festival Dec. 10. 

“The Lake Mills Holiday Festival is a great way to kick off the Christmas season,” said Cassie Johnson, executive director of  Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation. “We have several family-friendly activities and opportunities to do some holiday shopping. Our goal is to get people out into the community and experience what we have right here in Lake Mills.”

The events start with an in-home business holiday open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the upper level of Truman Helgeson Civic Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to shop for baskets, home decor items, gourmet food, jewelry, skin care products, clothing and many other items. Cash and carry items will be available and holiday orders will be accepted.

From 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the lower level of Truman Helgeson Civic Center will host the ethnic kitchen. Local cooks and bakers will give cooking demonstrations and samples of traditional treats they grew up with. Johnson said that while the food showcased in the kitchen is heavily Scandinavian, the event is open to people of any ethnicity who would like to share their traditional goodies with others. Some of the featured items to be included in the kitchen this year will be lefse, krumkake, rosettes and egg rolls. A donation is encouraged in exchange for samples to help reimburse participants for the ingredients used to make their items, and most are asking for $1 or less.

The Victorian Christmas bakery and quilt display will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the 1901 Victorian House at 308 S. Lincoln St. in Lake Mills. The home will be decked out for Christmas and will serve traditional Norwegian goodies, such as lefse, kringla and bread pudding. 

The public is invited to come to the library to color a greeting card to send to military personnel from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The library will also host cookie decorating. Those who wish to participate are asked to sign up at the library in advance as cookies are limited.

Santa Claus will make an appearance from noon to 1:30 p.m. at The Mills Theater. His visit will conclude just in time for the free movie, which is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

After the movie is over, the public is invited to cruise the Christmas lights contest route and vote for their favorites. According to Johnson, the contest was expanded last year to offer more categories and chances to win. This year, the Chamber will host the same contest and the organization hopes even more Lake Mills citizens join. Categories include nostalgic, faith-based, inside-out, Clark Griswold and Charlie Brown-iest.

Those interested in participating in the Christmas contest can visit www.lakemillsia.org/christmas-lights-contest for more information and to register. The deadline to register is Dec. 2 and the display needs to be completed by Dec. 5. Voting will take place the evening of Dec. 10 through Dec. 11. An entrant map will be posted on the Chamber’s Facebook page. Voters are encouraged to drive the route with family and friends and vote online. The Chamber is asking drivers to put safety first by not attempting to vote while touring the route.

Lake Mills Community School will host the The Dylan Kaercher Christmas Show in the Lake Mills Auditorium for the first time this year.

“The show has been a popular tradition in Albert Lea for eight years, and we are lucky enough to have them bring their holiday show to us this holiday season,” Johnson said. “There are several young actors featured from Lake Mills and we are excited to see them perform.”

Tickets for the show are available at Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation at 203 N. First Ave. West, or by calling the Chamber office at 641-592-5253.