The event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Manson Area Community Center multipurpose room located at 1227 16th St. There will be no admission charge.

Denise Heimgartner with the Manson Chamber of Commerce said the chamber has hosted this event for 10 years and there will be lots of fun things for the whole family at the event.

“We encourage families to come out and enjoy a fun time together to kick off the Christmas season,” she said. “There will be a number of local vendors there for those wanting to do some Christmas shopping while the children enjoy the various activities. We will also have a box to collect toys for our local Christmas Toy Drive sponsored by the Police Department.”

There will be many activities for kids and families including making Christmas decorations, decorating cookies, making an ornament, a cake walk, face painting, glitter tattoos, and a small petting zoo featuring turtles and a salamander from Calhoun County Conservation.

-Messenger file photo
Christian Lamphier, then 2, tells Santa that he wants a dinosaur and a combine for Christmas during a previous Hometown Christmas event at the Manson Area Community Center.

Refreshments such as popcorn, hot cocoa, and cider will be available. There will also be a bake sale hosted by Star Struck Dance Studio and 4-H.

There will be many vendors set up for shopping such as Scentsy, Thirty-One, State of the Art, LipSense, Main Street Blooms, and Pampered Chef.

Star Struck Dance Studio will have a gift wrapping station available for a freewill donation. There will also be a drawing to win kid’s bikes donated by 4-H and a raffle for 4-H Blue Ribbon Baked Goods.

Heimgartner said there will be a live nativity scene, but there will not be a pancake breakfast this year.

-Messenger file photo
Alexis Essing, then 8, of Manson, carefully places red sequins on her Christmas tree ornament, with assistance from Gloria Casey, of the Manson Public Library. The ornament was made by gluing puzzle pieces onto a tree shape, then topped off with a star and sequins for decoration. The activity was sponsored by the Manson Public Library during a previous Hometown Christmas event held at the Manson Area Community Center.