Spanning Second Avenue to Third Street along Main Street, attendees will enjoy food, music, kids’ activities, caroling, carriage rides, a lit parade, cookie decorating, a variety of shopping options and more. Many businesses will be staying open later, and offering special deals and sales.

“Looking at what’s coming for Main Street and what’s been done with construction, tied into our theme — things are bright on the horizon, everything’s looking bright for our future — all is bright,” Promotions Chair Alushia Fitzgerald said of the theme.

Back for the sixth year is the Holiday Window Competition. The following businesses will participate:

• 7 Rayos Liquor Store

• Ambellish Beauty Lounge

• Black Tire Bike Co.

• Brit Marie’s & Co

• Edward Jones-Bruce Wirin & Elisabeth Bieber

• Hellberg’s Jewelers

• Nied’s Pharmacy

• Oliver Beene Designs

• QPS Employment Group

• Tremont Grille

• Tremont on Main

“We have a group of local artists that do all the judging for that,” Fitzgerald added.

Winners will be announced the Tuesday after the Holiday Stroll.

The Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 20 W. State St., will be the site of the Christmas Craft Village where handmade crafts and goods from local vendors will be for sale. Also at that location will be the Festival of Trees, featuring trees and wreaths decorated by local businesses and organizations. Those creations will be voted on and auctioned off. These events will span noon to 7 p.m. Stationed at the Coliseum will be KDAO broadcasting live. A concession stand will also sell food and beverages.

Fitzgerald said there are 25 entries so far for the trees — 10 of which come from entities new to participating. She added that there are a lot of new vendors signed up for the Christmas Craft Village.

The Marshalltown Senior Citizens Center, 207 E. Church St., will host its annual Holiday Craft Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We have a group of women here at the center that are called the Sew & Sews and they create and donate all of the items that we have in our year-long in-house boutique, and so we host this bazaar every November, and we invite other vendors from the area to come in and set up their wares as well,” said Director April Long. “One hundred percent of the proceeds for anything that we sell goes directly back to the center.”

Of special interest will be the raffling off of a holiday-themed quilt. For every $10 people spend with any of the vendors, they will earn a raffle ticket.

Cookie decorating will be set up at the Tallcorn Ballroom, 2 N. Second Ave., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A five dollar kit includes everything you need to decorate two sugar cookies, with two types of frosting and sprinkles. Sponsored by Hy-Vee.

The Kids Carnival will be held at Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 214 W. Main St., from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Activities will include: helium balloons, face painting, carnival games with prizes, free popcorn, hot chocolate and cookies/bars.

The Lit Holiday Parade will run down Main Street from Third Street to Second Avenue. Santa’s Workshop will be in the lobby of 1st Interstate Bank, 11 N. First Ave., from 6 to 8 p.m. Santa will be on hand to hear Christmas wishes, plus cookies, drinks and activities will be available, provided by the Times-Republican and 1st Interstate Bank. Plume Hill Carriage Rides will run 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. meeting up in front of the courthouse.

Fitzgerald added that the planning committee is working closely with the Marshall County Courthouse for something special.

“We’re having it be a little bit of a surprise, so we’re not providing a lot of details,” she said.

Dining options will include a pasta dinner (lasagna and sides) at Central Christian Church, 300 W. Main St., from 4 to 7 p.m. — freewill donation with half of proceeds going to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Dinners program. First Methodist Church, 202 W. Main St., will host a hotdog supper and cookie walk from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Freewill donation for the House of Compassion and Salvation Army.

Food trucks Dave’s Mini Donuts and Pho Wheels & Sushi will be on hand during the stroll.

Live entertainment will include caroling by Marshalltown High School students and cast members from “Elf Jr.” the musical. Remix Dance Academy will perform at the Coliseum at 6:30 p.m.

Elim Lutheran Church, 302 W. Church St., will host a holiday concert from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Hudson Lourenço-Feld, organist, Josh Grimes, pianist and the Community Handbell Choir, handbells. Admission/offering is bringing canned goods for donation.

First Presbyterian Church, 101 S. Center St., will have Bobcat Academy perform at 4 p.m., followed by the Miller Middle School Jazz Band at 6 p.m.

Vineyard Christian Fellowship will have the Back Row Boys performing at 3:30 p.m., the Marshalltown Men’s Chorus at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Holiday Troubadours at 6:15 p.m.

Brittany Tow, MCBD Retail Promotions Chair, said this event is the ideal time to do your holiday shopping. She noted that several businesses will also participate in Pink Friday to #shopsmallfirst on Nov. 22, the day before the Holiday Stroll.

“This year especially is more important to support to make sure those businesses remain downtown,” Tow said.

Men’s Night on Dec. 19 is aimed at those last minute shoppers.

“More details will be posted soon on our Marshalltown Central Business District Facebook page, as well as flyers downtown in those participating businesses,” she added. “We will have deals, pop ups within businesses and gift ideas for all throughout downtown. Then of course make sure to dine out in any of our amazing restaurants.”

For Deb Millizer, executive director of the MCBD, the Holiday Stroll is more than a way to boost the local economy; it’s also about making memories.

“When we think about the communities that we grew up in, we often go back to the events that are held in the main street or downtown district,” she said. “That ties us to the community. Having events such as the Holiday Stroll, is more than kicking off the holiday season. It is about community ties and relationships, families coming together and community spirit.”

To learn more, visit: www.marshalltownmainstreet.org.