“Who’s ready to start the festivities of the holiday season with the lighting of the tree!” West Liberty mayor Ethan Anderson exclaimed as many crowded outside of city hall. After a raucous response, everyone began the count down.
Suddenly, the bright white lights adorning the tree glimmered, marking the end of West Liberty’s annual Community Open House, Nov. 18-19, a successful weekend for local businesses and community members alike.
“Thank you for putting on an incredible weekend,” Mayor Anderson said of the WL Chamber of Commerce. “A ton of people came out, the weather cooperated, it was a great kick off to the holiday season.”
Indeed, the weather couldn’t have been better during the grand event, which commemorates both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Downtown came alive as more than 40 businesses and hundreds of community members participated.
The two-day event saw many returning attractions and a few new ones, while encouraging many to shop local to kick off the holidays. Ron-de-Voo Park, or Who-Ville, hosted Santa and Mrs. Claus.
In fact, this is the first year Santa decided to stay outside. It was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off.
“It was perfect, I could not have asked for better weather,” said WL Chamber director Charles Brooke. “It’s truly ideal to have the open house on a weekend like this.”
The weather not only encouraged more people to come, but to stay longer. They enjoyed many of the outdoor activities, including a petting zoo on Spencer Street and alpacas on Fourth Street.
There were dancers in the windows at Nicole Rock’s School of Dance, a bell choir in the West Liberty Public Library from First Church United and caroling by the high school choir before the lighting of the city tree.
Liberty Public House had bingo. This was also the first year that the New Strand Theater hosted a free movie with free snacks, thanks to donations from the community and local businesses.
“It’s gone so well, a lot of the businesses have said that their Saturday sales have exceeded expectations,” said Director Brooke. “That, to me, is the best thing.”
The Holiday Open House was originally expanded to two days last year. The idea was two give retail businesses more time to sell their wares, rather than just the three jam-packed hours they were afforded in previous years.
Most storefronts were open along Third Street, full of Christmas decorations, music, and food. The We Lead building hosted a market of home businesses. Hot cocoa could be found from various vendors.
“When you look at other communities the size of West Liberty they have two-day events and weekend events,” added Director Brooke. “We really have to throw ourselves out there and say we can do it too.”
“It’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge,” he said of organizing all the resources, volunteers, businesses, donations and more that go into the Community Open House.