Cloquet's busy holiday festival begins Dec. 4

Hot on the heels of Thanksgiving comes Cloquet’s annual “Santa’s Home for the Holidays” festivities Dec. 4-7.

The festivities kick off Wednesday, Dec. 4, with Elf Bingo for kids and a free chili feed at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church from 4:30-7 p.m., sponsored by the Cloquet and Fond du Lac police departments and Carlton County United Way. Bring a food item to donate.

On Thursday, kids are invited to enjoy Storytime with Santa 10:15-11:15 a.m. at the Dunlap Island shelter, along with ice skating, weather permitting, sponsored by Community Ed and Cloquet Public Library. Later in the day, head to the Holiday Open House with Santa 4-6 p.m. at the Pine Knot News office at 122 Avenue C. Kids and the young at heart are invited to come and take their photos with Santa — to be published in the paper later — and enjoy cookies and punch. The “Winter Fest” gift and craft show kicks off at the Armory 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and continues Friday (and Saturday) at the Armory.

The County Seat Theater play “Sorry, Wrong Chimney!” runs Dec. 4-6 at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee Dec. 7.

On Friday, Dec. 6, there’s more fun and free photos with Santa, along with children’s holiday music, crafts and dinner at Queen of Peace Church 4:30-7 p.m. Cost is $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 3-12 and free for ages 2 or younger.

Saturday, Dec. 7, is the big day, when there are events all day long, including the parade, and fireworks with an alumni hockey game to wrap things up in true Northland style.

Saturday’s schedule goes like this:

• 8:30-10:30 a.m. Pancake breakfast at Churchill Elementary sponsored by Boy Scout Troop No. 171. Adults $5, children $3.

• 9-11 a.m. Cookie Walk and Country Store at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

• 1-4 p.m. Cloquet Ford Chrysler holiday event. Decorate a Christmas cookie, watch a magic show and then take a hayride around town and head to MCCU for more fun, or vice versa.

• 1-4 p.m. MCCU holiday event includes live reindeer from 2-4 p.m., visits with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, face painting by Maura, cookies, hot dogs and hayride.

• 3-6 p.m. Nelson Funeral Care will make kids IDs, or just stop in for hot chocolate and cookies.

• 4 p.m. Warm up and make s’mores around a Cloquet Area Fire District fire pit before the parade.

• 5 p.m. Santa’s Home for the Holidays Parade starts down Cloquet Avenue from 18th to Eighth Street, followed immediately by fireworks (launched from Veterans Park, so no need to move from your parade spot to enjoy).

• 7 p.m. Alumni Hockey Game between Lumberjacks and Greyhounds alumni at Northwoods Credit Union Arena. Students, wear hockey gear and get in free. Hosted by Cloquet Chamber of Commerce.

Send donations for the festivities to 225 Sunnyside Drive, Cloquet MN 55720.