Christmas fun sprinkled Manhattan on Dec. 3 as the community celebrated Christmas on State. The event could not have been accomplished without the help and support of many groups. The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library offered children’s crafts throughout the day. The Manhattan Park District hosted photos with Santa Claus, cocoa and cookies and make and take crafts. The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce awarded prizes based on the public’s vote for beautifully decorated gingerbread houses: Brayden O’Neill (K-2), Sydney Rutkowski (Grades 3-5), Mike Korpitz (Grades 6-8) and Kelly Ardan (adult).
Children and parents had a great time visiting the locations on the Scavenger Hunt card to collect signatures and treats. The Scavenger Hunt winners were Jase and Laci Michel and Payton and Colin Baikie.
Additional events around town included Kid Country’s Christmas program, the Manhattan Township Historical Museum, which displayed toys of Christmas past, and offered a tour of the caboose.
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A big thank you goes out to the following businesses that supported the Chamber’s events: Ardan Autobody, Crosswind Farms, First Bank of Manhattan, HomeStar Bank, Lee Hanson of Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell, Grand Prairie Animal Hospital, Illinois Eye Associates, Image 360, Kid Country, Manhattan Collision Center, Manhattan Elwood Public Library, Manhattan Dental Care, Manhattan Park District, Manhattan Medical and Riverside Immediate Care.
The Village and Manhattan Police Department coordinated traffic concerns as the town lit up with a glowing parade. The Manhattan Fire Department pulled Santa‘s sleigh with reindeers flying over the chimney, which billowed with smoke. Kirby’s Korner Bakery and Country Flooring treated the crowd to cocoa and cookies after Mayor James Doyle lit the Time Square tree decorated by the township. The Christmas spirit was definitely in the air Dec. 3 as the community came together.
