MEDORA — For the 51st year, the Medora Christmas Festival will take place in the small southwestern Jackson County community.
Festivities start Friday when the town’s Christmas tree near the Medora Library will be lit at 6 p.m. The event also will feature Christmas carols and free Christmas cookies.
Then Saturday, food, craft and flea market vendors will open at 9 a.m. Hague & Zabel Funeral Home will host an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and have parking and restrooms available.
Onstage entertainment includes Christmas music from 9 to 10 a.m., Jerry and Amber Henson from 10 to 11 a.m. and TAPP’D Seymour from 11 to 11:45 a.m.
At noon, the crowning of the 2023 festival prince and princess from Medora STEM Academy will take place.
The parade will step off at 1 p.m. with Clarence Brown providing an opening prayer, Landon Lee singing the National Anthem and James Smith serving as grand marshal.
Schools, churches, organizations, businesses and families may participate by building a float, creating a walking unit or decorating a pickup truck and riding in the back. People also may bring their custom or classic vehicle, drive a decorated side-by-side, ATV, dirt bike or tractor or ride a horse.
There is no entry fee, and no Santas are allowed in parade entries. Candy throwing is optional.
Parade entrants should be lined up and ready for judging by noon at the designated area off of State Road 235 on the north end of town. Those not in line for judging will not be eligible to win prizes.
Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third places in the school/church and private float competitions and for walking units. Trophies, ribbons and/or assorted prizes will be awarded to winners in the emergency vehicle, automobile and special feature classes.
After the parade, people can head to the Medora Senior Citizens Center for Selfies with Santa and Cookies with Mrs. Claus.
The festival will conclude with a Christmas party from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Carr Township Conservation Club. Admission is $10. Doors open at 7 p.m. The event for ages 21 and up will feature an ugly sweater contest, a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, door prizes and live music from Shiloh. Patriot Pizza will have its food truck set up from 7 to 9 p.m.
Also this holiday season, the festival committee is selling Christmas cards and ornaments. The Medora-themed cards are $3 each and ornaments are $15 and may be purchased at State Bank of Medora.
Plus, there is a holiday lights contest with $200 going to first place, $100 to second place and $50 for third place. It’s open to all Carr Township residents. Enter your home or a neighbor’s home by sending name and address in a message via facebook.com/medorachristmasfestival. Festival committee members will judge entries Wednesday night and award winners on Saturday.