Traditions like the mayor’s tree lighting are set to begin this week, as well as the opening of the Christmas tree farm. There will also be two holiday markets – one with young entrepreneurs’ creations – and opportunities for plenty of Christmas cookies.
Christmas tree farm – Starting Nov. 29
Starting Black Friday, Evening Star Pines will have Fraser firs, white pines, scotch pines, blue spruce and white spruce for sale.
Owners Cris and Sherry Crawford usually sell about 700 trees each year, a number that is only going up as live tree popularity continues.
“It goes in phases,” he said. “I’ve done this for 40 years and you’ll have fake trees for awhile, and then you’ll have real trees. We’re in a real tree cycle now and it’s lasted quite a while.”
Having done this for so long, the owners have grown to know many of their customers. Cris Crawford said they have pretty much the same clientele each year. It’s a good feeling to see returning families, he said.
Each year they plant about 1,000 trees, some in the spring and some in the fall. With insufficient rain this year, Cris said he had to cut down over 100 trees that died, some 6 feet and above. Rain has been an issue for the last few years, he said.
Shoppers can cut down their own tree, but farm employees will be available to help as well. Employees will also help shake the dead needles off, net the trees and mount them on cars.
Although it’s a stressful lead up to opening day, it’s all worth it to see the farm open for those few weeks, the Crawfords agreed.
“It’s a lot of fun. It keeps me out of trouble,” Cris Crawford said.
Usually opening weekend is the craziest, with 265 trees sold just on opening day last year, he said.
“You work on this for an entire year, for a week or two,” Sherry Crawford said.
Cris Crawford said it’s hard to know when they’ll sell out, but it could be the first weekend.
People have started coming earlier because of the Christmas tree shortage, he said. It used to be busiest the first week of December, but now the week of Thanksgiving is their peak time.
Trees are priced by height, ranging about $10 to $11 per foot. Fraser firs come in from Michigan so they cost a little more, he said. They also sell wreaths.
The farm will be open weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until sold out. Free hot chocolate and candy canes are available when the farm is open.
Holiday markets – Nov. 30
The Eudora Holiday Market will return this year with new young entrepreneurs hosting their own Youth Holiday Maker’s Market.
Both markets will be at the Rec Center with the main market in the gym and the youth sellers in the community room. There are going to be about 60 vendors and 12 youth entrepreneurs ages 6 to 12. Both markets will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30.
This year there will be three food trucks at the event all day, as well as craft tables run by Eudora JAG-K students for kids to create during the event. There will also be a Santa letter-writing station.
Live music will be going from 11 to 2 p.m.
Santa will also be in attendance from 3 to 5 p.m.
Convention and Visitors Bureau Vice President Amy DeLaRosa said all the markets have brought the community together whether they purchase items or not.
“I love to see people come together for the holidays, and whether you come to shop or just socialize, it’s always a fun time to see people that I haven’t seen for a while,” she said.
This year’s market will have 15-20 new vendors that residents have never seen at any of the other markets, she said. This gives a new spin to this market, DeLaRosa said.
“I love the added energy of the youth makers market. They have been so fun the last two that we’ve done, just to see you entrepreneurs and how talented they are in the products that they have made and I love to see them interacting with customers,” she said.
The market is a way to come together for the holiday to celebrate the community and showcase local talent.
“We are always aiming to provide quality events for our community and an opportunity to come shop small local businesses,” DeLaRosa said.
Mayor’s tree lighting – Nov. 30
The city will also do its annual mayor’s tree lighting at Lucy Kaegi Park. The lighting will take place right after dark, between 5:30 and 6 p.m.
Mayor Tim Reazin will flip the switch on the large tree on the baseball fields that is visible from K-10.
When the tree turns on, the other lights within the city, including those on Main Street will also turn on, Parks and Rec Director Sally Pennington said. There are about three miles of lights within town, she said.
There will be hot chocolate and Christmas music.
The city’s Holiday Hayrides will begin the following Tuesday. Residents can call the Rec Center at 785-542-3434 to sign up and see what availability there is.
Pendleton’s Country Market – Nov. 30 – Dec. 1
Pendleton’s will have a holiday open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. There will be poinsettias, evergreen wreaths, gourd art and other creations from the market. There will also be over 25 vendors from various farms.
Eudora Times cookie competition – Dec. 4
Bakers from around Eudora will compete for who has the best holiday cookie recipe at the second annual Eudora Time fundraising event.
From 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at Zeb’s Coffeehouse, bakers will line up with their cookies as residents go through the line and try all 10 recipes before voting for their favorites.
Votes will be made by placing cash into your favorite cookie’s box. The top three will be featured in a Eudora Times article.
If you make a donation to your favorite recipe, residents will also receive a copy of a cookbook with all the cookies at the event.
St. Paul United Church of Christ Rocking Country Christmas – Dec. 11
St. Paul will host a rocking country Christmas event starting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11. There will be chili, cinnamon rolls and a program featuring the Wakarusa River Band that begins at 7 p.m.
Unique arts and crafts will be available for sale. They will also accept silent bids on a large dollhouse. Proceeds will go toward the Eudora food pantry.
Methodist Church cookie sale – Dec. 14
The Eudora United Methodist Church’ s United Women of Faith group will host a bazaar fundraiser from 9 to 2 p.m. Dec. 14.
They will have cookies for sale by the pound, a craft sale and lunch from 11 to 1 p.m. They are asking women of the church to find their favorite cookie recipes and crafts. They will also be collecting gently used Christmas items.
Eudora Baptist Church dinner – Dec. 25
The annual Baptist Church dinner will be from noon to 2 p.m. Christmas Day. Food will be free and provided. No donations are necessary. All without Christmas plans are welcome.
