Christmas Time at the Mill sees attendance rise

The Fifth Annual Christmas Time at the Mill took place during the busy afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 6. With light flurries of snow starting to come down outside, the Christmas spirit was just as refreshing inside, and it was a little warmer. Even the Grinch looked like he was having a good time as people came in, enjoyed the many activities, and moved on. By the end of the day, more than 1,100 people including 475 children had attended.

 

Besides all the Christmas dazzle and Matthew Petsinger welcoming everyone to the festivities at the front door, the first things to see upon entry into the Mill were a free book table for children, a giant wooden Jenga game and a giant Connect Four game. All three were magnets for children. As the kids screamed and played with the games, a cross-armed Grinch passed by and gave them all a frown.

 

Pastor Michael Grannis of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was dressed as St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. He was joined on stage by fellow pastor Eric Ishimaru of Christ the King church, who said, “We’re going to read a story and talk back and forth, not just words but a discussion about the holiday.” Ishimaru added, “I was hoping a lot of people would show up today, but this many people here already is absolutely amazing.” Pastor Grannis was a busy man on Saturday because he also helped with St. Paul’s Bazaar earlier. The Story of St. Nicholas was to begin at 3:45 p.m. with the Waseca Jazz Band at 5:15 p.m.

 

The NRHEG band and choir spent 30 or more minutes on stage alternately playing or singing  holiday music to a ballroom full of people and families. Kids were coming and going, some carrying tiny wreaths, the homemade kind children can hang on the Christmas tree, with their names on them. There was a station for constructing those and that was also full of chatty kids. There was another table manned by volunteer Rachel Hinton, she was passing out coloring crayons and markers so children could color holiday pictures, “I volunteered because I love Christmas and I love the holidays.” Joe Hoehn was the holiday bartender for the day and he said, “We’ve had like 500 people here so far, I think I’ve already served 200 or so.”

 

Tami Gadbaw brought her two granddaughters, Aria and Ali, to the sleigh with a snowy backdrop set up to snap some photos, “We got hot chocolate and some cookies. They just met Santa and told him what they wanted for Christmas. Now I need some cute pictures of the girls and we can call it a day.” Amy Kelm of Kelms BBQ was serving hungry guests, she said, “It’s only three and I’ve already given out a hundred hot dogs today.” Katelyn Weber and Belle Miller were dressed like the famous women from the Disney Pixar movie “Frozen,” Weber was Anna and Miller was Elsa, “We have taken so many pictures with kids today it’s crazy.”

 

Christmas Time at the Mill is organized and sponsored by Matthew R. Petsinger Agency, LLC with donations from area businesses and individuals. Petsinger says he wishes to extend special thanks to the Waseca Area Foundation, Kelms BBQ for the free hot dogs, the Mill, KOWZ 100.9, Morgan’s Meat Market, HyVee for the free hot chocolate and Christmas cookies and the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter organization.