Grace Mackrill and Carol Plowman visit Santa at the 2023 event.
Special to the Times Vedette
The community of Adair has had a long and rich tradition of celebrating the Christmas holidays with various activities throughout the town. In 1996, a project was started to promote community involvement and serve as a fundraiser. The Adair Women’s Club and the Adair Library joined forces for the first annual Festival of Trees. This project has been held every year since with the exception of the COVID year in 2020. School groups, businesses, clubs, churches, organizations and individuals display a decorated tree, wreath, Christmas collection, Nativity scene, or other type of holiday decoration. The money earned is used to fund scholarships and other community projects. Over the years, more than $75,000 in scholarships has been awarded.
This year’s Festival of Trees will be held Saturday, Dec. 7. The Chamber of Commerce has also organized a vendor fair that will take place from 1-5 p.m. The vendors can be found at two different locations — the Adair Community Center and in the new gymnasium at Boys and Girls Club. Stop by for shopping and snacks at both places.
Jenna Nevins will provide live music at the Community Center to enhance the shopping experience. Applications for gym memberships and information about rental options will be available at the Boys and Girls Club. Free face painting will also be offered.
Boys and Girls Club has been a staple to the community since 2002. Over the last 22 years, the club has offered a safe, fun option for school-aged children to attend after-school programming, summer programming, and to participate in youth sports. The Club in Adair focuses on offering quality programming for a minimal cost so that all local youth can attend. More information can be found on the website BGCAdair.org or email BGCAdair@gmail.com
Scavenger hunt, soup supper and Santa also held
The Adair Fire Station will be the location for many other fun festivities on Dec. 7. The Festival of Trees will be open for touring from 2-7 p.m. for a free will donation. A scavenger hunt will be held throughout the displays, and free popcorn will be provided. Schmidt Family Funeral Home will offer a decorated tree to be raffled off. Judi Zimmerline will sell her homemade candy and cookies.
The Adair Lions Soup Supper will also be held at the fire station for a free will donation from 4:30-7 p.m. The Des Moines Little Big Band will play from 5-7 p.m.
The Adair Lions Club was chartered in 1951 and has been serving Adair for 73 years. Lynn Kilcoin and William L. Fisher originally helped to charter the Adair Lions. Currently, the club has 19 members and welcomes anyone who wants to serve the community. The Adair Lions Club has supported the ACGC School, Leo Club, scholarships, purchasing books for elementary students, the Adair Food Pantry, the Adair Library, Boys and Girls Club, the Adair Fire Department, the Adair Chamber of Commerce, and the Adair Community Center, as well as donations/renovations to the City Park for the past 72 years. Additionally, the Adair Lions Club provides donations to many other causes supported by Lions International and Iowa Lions, including Leader Dogs, the Cochlear Implant Center, and the Eye Bank.
The children can come to see Santa Claus at the Fire Station from 5-6 p.m., sponsored by the Women’s Club and the Adair Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will furnish goody bags. Sign up for a chance to win Bonus Bucks to be spent at Adair businesses.
BC Angus open house
BC Angus will also be having its open house in conjunction with Adair’s Christmas Extravaganza and Festival of Trees event on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1060 105th St., just outside Adair.
BC Angus is owned and operated by Blair and Erin Carney, who have shown a commitment to build a strong, sustainable angus operation they can pass on to the next generation. By continually improving their herd, expanding their farm, and providing premium angus beef through farm fresh meat sales, Blair and Erin work to preserve their family’s farming legacy for their children, Maxwell and Mariah. Even at the ages of 8 and 6, the children play an active role in the operation, learning the ins and outs of the family’s agricultural work firsthand.
All cuts of BC Angus beef will be available for purchase in addition to Christmas gift bundles and more.
The Festival of Trees Committee. Front row: Carol Plowman, Grace Mackrill and Sheryl Miller. Back row: Patsy Wood, Wanda Buckner, Pat Pettinger, Linda Hemminger and Renae Wedemeyer Old Smiley celebrates Christmas. An entry in the Festival of Trees from 2023.
