Citizens Central to host Christmas Tree Walk
Jessica Merritt, the receptionist at Citizens Central, left, and Erin Habben, program supervisor for Fort Dodge Parks, Recreation and Forestry, pose next to a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree at Citizens Central. A Christmas Tree Walk, where visitors can come in and view trees of varying themes, will take place there this month.
In one corner of Citizens Central, there might be a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree with shiny red and gold ornaments hanging from it. In another area, there might be a frosted tree with vibrant white lights strung across it.
That’s the vision Erin Habben has for the Christmas Tree Walk this holiday season at Citizens Central, 617 Central Ave. Habben, a Humboldt native, is the program supervisor for the Fort Dodge Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department. She was inspired to host a Christmas Tree Walk after recalling the positive feelings she had as a child when she walked through Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt during Christmastime. That church has long hosted a Christmas Tree Walk featuring a variety of themed trees. “I thought about the Methodist Church in Humboldt,” Habben said. “I thought it was really cool. I thought, ‘Let’s do that here.'” For the Tree Walk, businesses are invited to decorate a tree at Citizens Central. The cost is $25 for an 8-foot wide space. Registration is open until Sunday. Habben said she anticipates about 20 different trees to be on display. Iowa Central Community College, Facing Autism, and Youth Empowerment is just some of the organizations anticipated to decorate trees. The trees will first be displayed during Citizens Central’s PJs and Pizza event on Dec. 10. On that day there will be pizza, crafts and a scavenger hunt from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Santa Claus will also make an appearance. The cost to attend PJs and Pizza is $10. Attendees must pre-register. Next, the Tree Walk will be available to the public from Dec. 12-17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It will be open on Dec.18 and 19 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Cost for the event is the donation of a non-perishable food item. Those items will be donated to the Lord’s Cupboard. Habben said the Christmas Tree Walk is an opportunity for families to get out of the house and do something together. Family, she said, is her favorite part about Christmas. “Being with family and just celebrating the whole year,” Habben said. Information What: Christmas Tree Walk Where: Citizens Central When: Dec. 12 through Dec. 17 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 18 and 19, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Citizens Central Cost: Donation of non-perishable food items Businesses that wish to decorate a tree Call Citizens Central at 515-576-7237 or register online at fortdodgeiowa.org/parks Cost is $25
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