The Mower County Historical Society’s annual Christmas in the County event is on Saturday.

But first, it’s having a bake sale.

“This is an annual fundraiser for the Historical Society,” said MCHS Director Randy Forster. “We’ll have cookies of every shape, size, color and flavor and they sell for $4.50 per dozen. You can mix and match your selection.”

All cookies are homemade by volunteers, he said. Other treats that will be sold include homemade candies and that Norwegian flatbread favorite, lefse.

The bake sale will be from 4-6 p.m. on Friday at the MCHS administrative building.

There will be plenty of kid-friendly activities at the MCHS on Saturday. Kids can make Christmas cards, decorate cookies, make pinecone bird feeders, take rides in a horse-drawn carriage, and even blow the whistle on the 1004 steam engine.

Homemade chili and hot dogs will be available for purchase for lunch. Friday’s bake sale will also continue on Saturday if there is anything left over.

Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 for a chance to win a quilt made and donated by Virginia Bissen. The raffle drawing will be held at 2 p.m. You must be present to win.

A silent auction will be held throughout the day. Forster said there will be almost 100 gift baskets donated from businesses around the area available for bidding. The last bids will be accepted at 2:45 p.m. and closed out at 3 p.m.

“If you want to keep an eye on your items, stick around all day,” Forster said with a laugh.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present at the event for visits and pictures.

Saturday’s Christmas in the County event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the MCHS.

“It’s a great opportunity to celebrate a good old-fashioned Christmas,” Forster said. “It’s a very family friendly event.”

For more information, call 507-437-6082.

Other Holiday Events

Friday, Dec. 8

• Austin Community Playgroup – Christmas Tree Ornaments, 10-11:30 a.m. at Austin Congregational UCC. Kids can create 2 Christmas tree ornaments and enjoy a Christmas-themed treat. Registration required – limited to 25. Come and meet other parents, caregivers, and children in an informal, friendly, and fun environment.  All dates are subject to cancellation for church needs – notice will be sent out as soon as possible. For more information, call Sheila at 507-399-1924, or go to https://www.facebook.com/austincongoucc/?fref=ts.

• Christmas in the County Pre-Sale Bake Sale, 4-6 p.m. at the Mower County Historical Society. Get a head start with your holiday baking needs. For more information, call 507-437-6082.

• A Handmade Christmas – Christmas Party, 4-9 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Annual indie craft market with 30 hand-picked makers featured – great opportunity for gifts and treats. $10 for a weekend pass. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

• A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol, 7 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre. A Matchbox Children’s Theatre production. Everyone’s favorite classic holiday tale gets the fractured fairy-tale treatment, with famous fairy-tale characters taking on memorable roles of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol – Big Bad Wolf, Old King Cole, Queen of Hearts, a Fairy Godmother – you’ll never know who will show up next. This fun-filled adaptation stays true to the warmth and heart of the classic. Tickets $6 for youth 14 and under, $10 for adults. For more information, call 507-433-1931 or go to www.matchboxchildrenstheatre.org.

Saturday, Dec. 9

• Holiday Decor and Bake Sale, 9 a.m. to noon at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

• Operation Holiday Wrap Up, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shopko Austin. SPAM Post 570 will be on hand at Shopko to wrap gifts for a free will donation. Items to be wrapped must have been purchased from Shopko and be accompanied by a receipt. All proceeds will be used to support community programs sponsored by SPAM Post 570. For more information, contact Eileen at 507-437-4583 or echao8@charter.net.

• A Handmade Christmas – Anniversary Celebration, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Annual indie craft market with 30 hand-picked makers featured – great opportunity for gifts and treats. $10 for weekend pass, or $5 for Saturday. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

• Nativity Open House, 1-5 p.m. at 606 Oakland Place NE, Austin. The public is invited to see our collection of over 900 nativity scenes collected from all over the world in all different sizes, styles, and materials. $1 donation requested which will go to the Salvation Army. For more information, or if you would like to make an appointment, call 433-2643.

• A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol, 2 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre. A Matchbox Children’s Theatre production. Tickets $6 for youth 14 and under, $10 for adults. For more information, call 507-433-1931 or go to www.matchboxchildrenstheatre.org.

Sunday, Dec. 10

• A Fairy Tale Christmas, 2 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre. A Matchbox Children’s Theatre production. Tickets $6 for youth 14 and under, $10 for adults. For more information, call 507-433-1931 or go to www.matchboxchildrenstheatre.org.

• Austin Symphony Orchestra: Trans-Siberian Christmas, 2-4:30 p.m. at Knowlton Auditorium, Austin High School. Alt-Rock ensemble the Galactic Cowboy Orchestra returns to Austin for performance of Christmas music in the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In more traditional style, the Austin Symphony Chorus joins the orchestra  for one of French composer Francis Poulenc’s best-known works and tribute to Russian friend, Igor Stravinsky. Tickets are also available at the Coffee House on Main Street and Hy-Vee. For more infon, go toaustinsymphonyorchestra.org.