A county Christmas; Historical society celebrates with annual event
Published 10:31 am Monday, December 15, 2014
Horse-drawn sleighs carry area residents at the Mower County Historical Society’s Christmas in the County event Saturday. — Photos by Trey Mewes/trey.mewes@austindailyherald.com
From Santa to cookies, train whistles to sleigh rides, there were plenty of activities for families to enjoy this year at Christmas in the County.
The annual event put on by the Mower County Historical Society drew hundreds despite dreary weather and fog.
Pianist Kris Allas sings Christmas carols during Christmas in the County Saturday at the Mower County Historical Society.
“Minnesotans are a hardy bunch,” Executive Director John Haymond said with a laugh.
The weather felt nice to Gary and Meridee Ofstedahl, who took their grandchildren Aaron, 3, Grace, 10, Ethan, 6, and Caleb, 8 to the annual event.
“They’re anxious to go ride the horses,” Gary said.
Gary Ofstedahl, left, explains how a train works to Grace Ofstedahl, 10, and Aaron Ofstedahl, 3.
The grandchildren had already visited Santa and made cookies before they toured a railcar on the historical society property.
“It’s really fun,” Grace said.
The annual event was fun for Haymond as well, since it was the first such Christmas in the County he had experienced since he became executive director earlier this year.
“It’s fun to see the way we’ve done it in the past and to take in some ideas for the future,” he said.
Judy Bruggeman, center, prepares cookies for the Mower County Historical Society’s bake sale.
Christmas in the County won’t be the only big event the historical society has planned this winter. The historical society has joined with the Hormel Historic Home to create History Happy Hour each month, which Haymond said has been a large success thus far.
