Christmas in Boone, Kris Blocker, Visit Boone County and Ashley Redeker, Modern Dress, November 13, 2026

And believe it or not, we are going to be talking about Christmas and the holiday season and everything else today. Christmas in Boone, I think is a good way to start it. Chris Blocker's here from Visit Boone County and we have Ashley Redaker joining us, modern dress and just entrepreneur. How's that? Yeah, great. Good morning. Okay, we'll do that. People are going, what? We're already talking Christmas and it is really. It is the time. We are, again, very, very quickly approaching and I know, Chris, you put in the application to the City Council for the holiday-lighted parade, so we got that part going on. Yeah, we sure do. And that's going to be on the 28th, so everybody's going, what? That's different. Yeah, it's different, but a couple of weeks from now. So we'll talk about the parade in a minute and getting ready for that. But kickoff, we really have holiday open houses actually starting this weekend. Absolutely. Tomorrow at Modern Dress is our holiday open house. It's a super fun day. And this is one of those things over the last several years, I think, what we've had that a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, just have that open house, no matter what the weather is. Yep. And we're just going to get started. Yeah, absolutely. In the morning we have live music, Lois Downs is playing piano, and then we do have Santa will be stopping by around noon, so anybody can come see Santa at noon. Okay. But we always have treats and drinks, and it's just a super fun, yes, kickoff to the shopping season. Our store is fully decorated. You're ready? Yeah, we're ready. And from the merchant standpoint, when you look at it, it is a pretty tight season this year. Absolutely. The Halloween, the next day it's Christmas in our world. Well, and it is in the way it goes this year because Thanksgiving is so late in the month. And we're less than two weeks away from that. And then all of a sudden, I mean, less than a month to Christmas. Absolutely. So we've got a lot of things to do. All right, let's start with what all is coming up there, because the big thing is really we're shooting for what, the 28th, after Thanksgiving is really, we got a lot of things, obviously, come on out for the open house, and then open every Saturday like that? Absolutely. Every Saturday we're open 10 to 4. So we've got all these plans now coming together. Tell me a little bit about what's happening, and we know the parade is going to be on the 28th, so we'll start with that. Correct. Yeah. As you guys probably recall, I know it hasn't lost my memory, but last year was extremely cold. We set out to have our parade and lighted tree in conjunction with the Santa on Story and got a snowstorm that afternoon into early evening and had to postpone to that Sunday. And it turned brutally cold. So we decided to move things up, and Ashley and I started working together and talking about this idea of hosting a market in downtown Boone in conjunction with our lighted tree and parade. So I'm excited. We have lots of fun activities and ideas and things to, I guess, reveal, and we'll start getting those here for the next couple of weeks. It fits right in because that Saturday after Thanksgiving is small business Saturday. Yep. And that was kind of how we landed on that date. We thought, well, people might be out of town for Thanksgiving, but also small business Saturday. And ideally, my goal is always the same as Chris's to bring people into town and keep them into town and stay and shop more. So everyone's probably going to be having their promotions downtown for small business Saturday. So we thought, how can we elevate this to bring more people downtown? So and just make it a big, have a big celebration. Absolutely. And I've been to some traditional Christmas markets and they're really great. I mean, we've talked, Pella has a great one. We think we can kind of start to evolve to something of what the caliber they have. Just keep bringing it up. Absolutely. Yeah. So tell me a little bit about, OK, so we've got the parade and now entries for the parade. Let's start with that. Yeah. OK. So we're still taking entries for the parade. Absolutely. Go to Visiboon County? Yep. Visiboon County on our events page. Go to the November 28th date. Click on it. And then in that information, there's an entry form in there. So just fill that entry form out and get it back to me. And we already have a great number and we would love to just keep adding to that. So it's free to enter as well. It's free. Yes. So it's great for any businesses. Any handful of businesses. Yeah. It's free to enter. Our theme for our parade this year is Stars and Stripes and Christmas Lights. So yeah, so we're kind of going with a patriotic type of theme and hoping that, yeah, some people will have fun with that. Well, red, red, white and blue for Christmas. Why not? Yeah. Right? Do that too. It's American 250 still, so. Yeah. So again, get signed up, plan to come and be a part of it. Yep. I think in the holiday-lighted parades routine or schedule, for many, that will be early. So there are probably going to be other opportunities that could still go out there after the facts. Right. Right. Let's kick it off. Yeah. And we're excited. So after our day, we'll start like at noon. And we're going to kick off at noon with a lot of just different activities. So the market will open then. We're going to have a kids' center at 704 Story Street sponsored by the EDGE program. So we'll have some students there that will host some student fun things in there. We're going to have activities for the kids to do, and that'll be totally free also. So let's talk about the market thing set up here too. Stage mode is outside of a few details is done. It looks like every time I go over there, who are past it anyway, up here at eighth and story, or the green space area, we're going to be blocking off the streets. Are you asking for that? What are we going to, obviously, for the parade? Right. Yep. Yep. The street will be blocked for the parade. And then other than that, it'll be blocked at eighth street from the alley to Story. So that's where the market basically will be set up. Just out. Okay. Guys from the city are already starting to put some stuff out this morning. So that's where the tree lighting will also go. Yep. And they'll get the tree over there too. Yes, they will. And they'll prefer to do it when it's better weather. Right. I know. Yeah, it is. They'll be out there. Folks, watch out for them while they're putting everything up. So tell me a little bit about vendors and things like that, that you are being invited to be a part of this. Sure. I will, kind of traditional Christmas markets, there's food vendors, there's vendors that make gifts, you know, more unique items, things you might want to purchase for gifts. So we do have some fun food vendors. We have some people that make, you know, specialty items. Sure. So not anything, we're not trying to duplicate what we already offer downtown. So but still we would like some, if there's anybody that wants to be a vendor, it's only $25 to participate. And that will run from noon to 5 p.m. Then when the lighted parade starts, then that will close. Okay. So just an opportunity, they can come out and bring their wares out, head brings snacks out. Kringle. Whatever. Saying. Yeah, maybe we need somebody that does that. Yeah. Anyway, so what's the process to get signed up for that? Do they go again to visit Boone County? Yes. There's an application. They fill out and they just fill out the application and get that sent back in and we'll get them taken care of. All right. We're going to have Santa around, obviously. We are from three to five. Santa will be located down at the Daily Boss. Okay. He'll be inside there as well as we'll have some live music in there throughout the day. We're excited about that. Some difference. Sometimes Santa just takes off though. Yeah. Sometimes. Wonders all over the place. Yeah. Santa might just be wandering downtown Boone somewhere. That's okay. Yeah. We'll do that too. Yes. Let's talk a little bit because you have a couple other things that'll be going on throughout the afternoon and evening as well. Some very, very fun things. Okay. Go ahead. Yeah. We're super excited to announce that we will have some slave rides and carriage rides downtown Boone. So that will, again, to Ashley's point, that'll be free so you can come down, take a carriage ride around town and enjoy some of the festivities and just take in the holidays a little slower, slower pace. Just kind of slow down and enjoy some time with your family. We're friends. We're friends. It's super fun though. Yeah. Just something special to do but no cost to anyone. So that's sponsored by the Convention and Visitors Bureau as well. That's one thing too. The part of it is let's get people to come in, come on in and come from all over. Other events before, it was like you get in the, if you have the first Saturday in December or something like that, all of a sudden we're getting crowded. We've got several of those kind of events here. This one got a little better here right after Thanksgiving. We hope so. I know we're kind of testing it to see if moving it up earlier, you know, if people will come out. Hopefully the weather's good too. So that's always a factor, right? I don't know. I was going to play some Christmas music but I thought, I'll hold off a little while here. I know other people are already playing it but hey, that's okay. It is, again, a little bit of a change on the schedule and we've had other things we know like the Hope Foundation have kind of did their schedule for when they're going to do it. But it does get very busy after Thanksgiving and stuff. You guys will continue and I think probably several of the other merchants and shops on Story are going to keep very busy again through the holidays. Absolutely. We all have a big push to shop local. I just had the eighth grade part of the Edge program come in and I just mentioned to them about, do you guys know where your sales tax dollars go in our 1% option tax? And they looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. So we just think it's important to remember, you know, who's sponsoring your local activities. Just try to shop local this season. Come on down. There's going to be plenty going on too. And I'm guessing others got a lot of ideas going on on what they're going to be doing for this as well. Do you guys share many ideas about what you're doing when you start talking about some of these things? Yeah. I mean, I have eight million ideas. But I can only do so many ideas. Yes, exactly. So I think each retailer downtown does kind of their own promotions too. So I think that, I mean, everybody just tries to put as much out there as they can and share as much as they can. Obviously, like last year, it's so weather dependent. It is. But we do outdoor things all the time. Exactly. Right? Most beautiful ski hill in the state of Iowa and people love love to ski. So we're not afraid of the cold here in the Midwest. Well, if it gets cold, they'll make their snow. Right. Well, we know that that's going to happen. But I think one more thing that we have to mention is we're super excited about this too. We tried to find something that made us a little unique to this market idea and what would be something that would be fun for families to come and do. So we have these two beautiful lit domes. So you can have a date in the dome and all that information is coming out today. So sneak peek here this morning. Think of an igloo. An igloo. Right? Yeah. Yeah. And it's all lit up. We'll have two different options for packages that is not free. But we'll have one package and again, you'll be able to see some pictures of it, but it's a big igloo with a couch and some chairs and we'll have two different experience options. One with just the experience for $40 for a family of either four or five is what it will hold and then an experience where you can come in and then also get your own charcuterie board filled with goodies and then four hot drinks. So we're for $50 and we're super excited about that. It's just something so different that you just don't see in a lot of other places and a little different to bring it out and then they're going to expect something great every year. That's what our hope is. That's our hope. Absolutely. Because you know, we want to keep growing it, right? Yeah. Keep growing it. Keep attracting people to come down for it too. So it's going to be our Christmas in Boone and really the Christmas market thing is really what we want to encourage people to come and participate in. Well actually come and participate every weekend. We got holiday related things that will be going on and I know you've talked about what you're doing at Modern Dress, but we have so many other businesses that will do different things too. Absolutely. I'm interested to see, you know, some of the vendors that will show up. So I'm pretty sure you already have some that have gotten signed up. Yeah, we do. Give me space. Save me space. Will they just be, you know, lined up on the street or do we have, how is it going to be set up or are you still, you have an idea, I'm sure. Yes. They'll be lined up on the street on that eighth street section right in front of the green space, just south of the green space. They'll be on that street there. Our igloo set ups will be in the middle of the market and like I said, we have those free kids activities, the free carriage rides. There's going to be a lot of things to keep people downtown and give them a lot of things to do. All right. Tree lighting ceremony. Correct. Which is, well, and make sure that all the light bulbs are working. Yup. That part. And they will be getting, the tree obviously will be set up, but the big thing will be get doing the tree lighting. Right. So as soon as the market closes, we'll go into the parade. The parade will begin at five o'clock. Same route will come up from fifth up to ninth street. So line the streets there, lots of fun, fun different ideas along that with people that are willing to participate in the parade. And again, if you're not signed up yet, get that entry in and we'll still take you up until the last minute. So, and then as soon as, and then as soon as the parade gets over. I'm sorry, but you know, I'm guessing probably Janet's going to be around for the parade. We have people that just show up. Just show up. That's right. That's right. We make it work. They'll find a place for it. That's right. We always make it work. But you try to get signed up before me. Yes. Yes. A lot of people put a lot into them. Right. They do. So yeah. And then as soon as the parade is over, walk on up to eighth and story street up on the green space and we'll kick off their tree lighting with some music around the tree sponsored or hosted by Trinity Lutheran and they will have some kids that'll sing and maybe a few from United school. And then once that wraps up, Santa will hang around and if you haven't had a chance to see him throughout the day, he'll still be around to give you a little goodie bag and hear what you want for Christmas. So we'll have all kinds of things there are others now when you started doing all of this and planning it, did you get more people starting to come in with more ideas and things? We kind of started out, we asked a couple of people to kind of help us be a little bit of a committee. Yeah. So just to kind of organize our thoughts and divvy up some of the work too. So yes, we, we have a ton of ideas. We just, we were kind of on a short timeframe this year. So we, I think next year we will have a very refined event. And the plan right now traditionally, we'll, to make it a tradition to come up that small business Saturday. Yeah. We're going to see how the date works. Yeah. If people are out of town, but I've often found within my store, if people go do the Black Friday thing, they come stay in town on Saturday for small business Saturday. And if you're home, you know, for the hall for Thanksgiving, people, there's a lot of people that come home and want to do something too. So I think. We'll find some. Yeah. Absolutely. Come, come to Boone. Yeah. Absolutely. Your hometown. Yeah. And there aren't a lot of other markets or festivals going on that weekend either. So I think that's going to be a good draw for us. All right. So Christmas in Boone is really the focus going to be on Saturday, noon till, I'm guessing whenever you get done around six or so, but and at the same time, all the businesses still have their businesses open. Absolutely. And a lot of people do promotions for small business Saturday as well. So they'll be coming in to having that and then we got the parade at five, roughly five o'clock. Yeah. We'll make it all get it all. And once again, for those that are interested in being in the parade or being a vendor participating in this, go online, go to Visit Boone County and VisitBooneCounty.com and again, the applications are on there. You'll find them there. If you have any questions, contact me. Email works now. So go ahead. All right. It's back up. So Chris at VisitBooneCounty.com and Chris with the K, yep. And we'll get it back. And don't forget, come out for the holiday open house to start things off. Yes. The holiday open house tomorrow at Modern Dress from 10 to 4, it's a super fun day. And I do always mention Bacon's Open House on Sunday is a good one too. Yeah. You need some diamonds. Yeah. Go out to Bacon's on Sunday. You got that too. Yeah. Eddie's got them. I want to give a quick shout out to our sponsors so far. So of course, Visit Boone County's helping contribute and put this all on as well as Alliant Energy, Modern Dress. The Boone County Hospital has been instrumental in this as well. The Daily Boss and Sell It Well, Home Staging. So lots of great sponsors as well. So we want to thank them for their participation. And anybody else who wants to get in and join the crowd. Absolutely. With love to hear from you. Yeah. Well, again, the bigger group we get. Yeah. The more things we can do. Absolutely. We do that too. Then you get even more ideas. Again, our guest on our program today from Modern Dress, Ashley Radiker, and from Visit Boone County, Chris Blocker. We are talking about the Christmas in Boone activities coming up on the 28th, but really activities are going to start with the open house on the 14th. We look forward to having a lot of people continue to come downtown Boone and see what's going on for the holidays. Thanks for coming in. Thank you. Thank you.