Jeannie McCarthy and Mariah McClung, of the Prairie City School art club, serve up free hotdogs outside Prairie Drug and Hardware during Christmas on the Prairie.

PRAIRIE CITY – Let the holidays begin!

That was the sentiment in Prairie City last Saturday as people from across Grant County and beyond thronged to town for the annual Christmas on the Prairie celebration.

People streamed in and out of shops along Front Street all day, chatting, laughing, and of course, scooping up bargains. They also converged on several sites – Prairie City School cafeteria, the community center and the public works building – for bazaars and vendor sales.

While the weather looked threatening, the rain stayed clear of the festivities most of the day.

A popular spot was the Teen Center on Front Street where kids of all ages made crafts, led by Lindsay Rausch, and gingerbread houses, organized by Anna Smith. Maddy Hassmiller and Aiden Marten’s names were drawn to win prizes of ready-made gingerbread houses.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, accompanied by a trio of elves, dropped in on the Teen Center, arriving in flashy style aboard a Prairie City fire engine with its siren blaring and lights flashing.

Other activities included the opening of DeWitt Museum for the day, a Prairie City School FFA auction and dinner, and a tree-lighting ceremony at City Park.

A concert at the Strawberry Grange Hall, emceed by Boyd Britton, and presented by Strings & Beyond and Friends, capped the festive day. Vocal and instrumental performances featured a range of styles, from timeless carols to upbeat holiday tunes.