Two Christmas events slated for Mound City on Saturday

A family poses with the Grinch for a photo at last year's Breakfast With the Grinch event. (Journal file photo)

Journal staff report

(Correction: In an earlier version of this story, the time that Santa will be visiting with children at the schoolhouse at the historical park was incorrect. He will begin at 4:30 p.m. We regret the error.)

Mound City will be the site of two Christmas celebrations on Saturday. The first will feature “Breakfast With the Grinch” in the morning at the Linn County Fairgrounds north of town. The second will come later in the afternoon at the Mound City Historical Park.

The city of Mound City and the American Legion Hewitt New Post  No. 248 will host the breakfast with the Grinch. Breakfast will be served at the American Legion building on the fairgrounds from 7 to 10 a.m. A donation is suggested for the breakfast.

The city is sponsoring Grinch activities at the adjacent 4-H Building from 8 to 11 a.m.

Last year’s event turned out to be more popular than expected with the food nearly running out for breakfast. Legion member Kris Wharton said that the organization will be expecting the larger crowd this year.

Following breakfast, families can head over to the 4-H Building where children will receive build-a-puppy kits to assemble and take home. Other crafts will also be offered as will cookies and drinks. Thanks to the writing of Dr. Seuss, the Grinch has become almost as popular as Santa with young children, and Grinch will be at the event for photo opportunities.

The living Nativity will return to the Mound City Historical Park on Saturday, (Journal file photo)

Beginning at 3 p.m., activities begin at the Mound City Historical Park on the northwest corner of the Seventh and Main streets intersection. The first order of business for parents is to register their children 2- to 12-years-old for gifts before the 4 p.m. deadline.

At 3:50 p.m. Santa arrives and will help celebrate Christ’s birthday before the drawing for children’s gifts begins at 4:15 p.m.

Other activities include the caroling and a performance by the handbell choir beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Schoolhouse, the opportunity for children to visit with Santa at the schoolhouse beginning at 4:30 p.m., and milk and hot chocolate served at the Warzell House from 3 to 5:30 p.m., and a live Nativity at the barn from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

There is no cost for both the Grinch event in the morning and the park activities that afternoon.

This family enjoys creating a couple of stuffed penguins at the Breakfast With the Grinch last year. This year it will be puppies. (Journal file photo)