When I was 7 years old, I was convinced I knew the real Santa Claus. He fit all the requirements: a portly, jolly fellow with a snow-white beard, wire-framed spectacles, and a cherry nose. And he knew me every time I saw him in our small town. I whispered to him my Christmas list at the annual community craft faire, I cherished him as he taught my second grade class to make apple cider at his little orchard, and I was just tickled when I saw him at our only clothing store because, somehow, he also had time to be the shoe salesman in town. I bragged to my friends when he played Santa yet again at our annual Tree Lighting. Main Street lit up and welcomed the community into their shops with hot cider and fresh fudge, and we all counted down to watch our Christmas tree lit up. It was magic.
A few decades later, I’m now raising my daughter in another small town. As a stay-at-home mom, I probably spend too much time trying to recreate the magic of the holidays that I felt as a child. Approaching my daughter's fourth Christmas this year, I feel like I’ve been missing something. Where have these festive community events gone? Where is our Main Street? It’s no secret that Main Street America is struggling. In recent years as I’ve become a parent and a small business owner, I’ve come to realize these events didn’t just happen. People, a lot of people, spent time and money making them happen. Now, it is my turn to make it happen.
We live in a special little pocket of the Sierra Nevadas that I don’t think most people even realize still exists called the Sierra Valley. Our town, Loyalton, has about 1,100 people, zero stop lights, one grocery store, one gas station, one hardware store, four restaurants, a high school graduating class of about 30 students, and an hour’s drive from McDonalds. Loyalton is a genuine small town and because of that, we can take for granted that this is a rare lifestyle, where a traffic jam only happens when the herd of deer is crossing the street too slowly and we get frustrated when we can’t park directly in front of the Post Office like we always do. If I don’t know someone, I will soon. The most amazing people live here and we are fortunate to get to actually know them and take pride in taking care of each other.
Dana McAdams, a Loyalton local, who coordinates the annual Women’s Ministries Christmas Craft Faire, jumped right on board when I approached her with a wild idea to merge her event with my Christmas Market event at our hardware store and include the whole town. And Christmas on Main Street was born! In a true example of how magical our small town is, we went door to door to recruit each of our businesses and clubs, since we know everyone by name anyway. The support and excitement we have received have been astonishing. Loyalton is ready to make the magic happen!
While working at our fine dining, destination restaurant, I’ve been able to meet a good deal of visitors who are always amazed at how quaint and genuine our town is. And that’s when we aren’t even dressed up! So, we would like to invite you, your family, and your friends to join us for a truly magical, joyful, community-driven, small-town Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 in Loyalton, California.
This is an entire day-long event spanning our five (rural) block Main Street beginning at 10am. Our businesses and clubs will serve free seasonal, warm beverages throughout the day to keep
you toasty. Rent a mug so you can really feel at home for the day! I suggest starting your day with breakfast at the Corner Cafe and then pop over to the 23rd annual Women’s Ministries Christmas Craft Faire which hosts over 25 local crafts and a snack bar. Next, it might be time for one of Heather’s Famous Bloody Mary’s at the Sierra Valley Bar and Grill. After you have warmed up for a bit, it will be time to check out the outdoor Evergreen Stage hosted by Musica Sierra. The Loyalton Theatre Club will be performing An Enchanted Bookshop Christmas. The Evergreen stage will be hosting live music and caroling all afternoon with our headliner local duo starting at 3:30pm. Near the stage, the Loyalton Senior Center will be hosting s’more making and soup for lunch. The Loyalton High School Sophomore Class will have their locally cut silvertip Christmas trees for sale. Our renowned Loyalton Senior Thrift Store will be open on the rare Saturday just a block behind the stage. Loyalton's Milton Gottardi Museum will be running their seasonal Polar Express model train as well as showing the movie if you need a warm place to take a break. And put your feet up and take a real ride around town on the Roberti Ranch hay ride.
Back on Main Street, pop into Leonard’s Grocery Store for Christmas cookies and then onto White’s Service Station for Christmas candy and the very best locally made, Riley’s Beef Jerky. Stop by our library for a warm drink and meet the new Friends of the Library. Keep going all the way to The Frogs-Ty for another yummy drink, lunch or dinner, and the best soft-serve ice cream. Right next door is the annual Christmas Market at Sierra Valley Home Center and The Lombardi Mercantile including mulled wine, Grinch hot chocolate, popcorn, artistic sugar cookies from Curbside Baking Co., Sierra Pacific coffee, local antiques, plus guests are encouraged to write a letter to Santa and take a picture with him! And be sure to stop by my boutique, Girl & Goose, for exclusive event merchandise.
By that time it will probably be about 4:30pm, which will be perfect since that’s when our light parade hosted by Sierra Timberfest proceeds down Main Street. At 5pm, we will all countdown and light up our Christmas tree. The Loyalton Rotary and 4-H clubs will serve more yummy drinks and Christmas cookies. And fun still somehow isn’t over. The Loyalton Fire Department will then offer rides in the fire truck around town to see the lights! Grab some dinner at the Frogs-Ty, gourmet comfort food at Drifter’s Table for Saturday Super (reservation required), or at the Sierra Valley Bar and Grill that is hosting a spaghetti feed fundraiser for Terry’s Toys for Tots. Then finish out this amazing event with a rest at the Gilded Drifter’s Inn or the Top Story B&B.
We hope to see you there. I promise it will be magical.
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