Christmas Village, Holiday Train & Christmas Parade
Christmas Village and Holiday Train
by Renee Fite
City of Stilwell Director of Public Relations and Media
A Christmas Village of vendors with poinsettias, crafts, meat pies, jellies, relish, wreaths, desserts and giveaways was busy with visitors all day Saturday, Nov. 29 at Adair Park between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. The event was to celebrate the evening’s entertainment, the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train, featuring SmashMouth and Canadian singer J.J. Wilde.
When Santa was scheduled to show up at 3 p.m., a line of excited children formed from the back corner where he was sitting to the front door of the Larry E. Adair Building.
Those who missed seeing Santa can see him in the Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 12 downtown. After the parade he will be available for photos.
About 20 vendors filled the Christmas Village, with Christmas music playing at the Rose Farms booth. It may have been cold outside, but it was warm and welcoming inside the event.
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The rock band Smash Mouth and Canadian singer JJ Wilde played Christmas songs and several of their hits. Stilwell mayor Jean Ann Wright and Shawn Wright, representative of Cherokee Nation, received a $4000 check from CPKC to benefit a local food bank.
photos: Renee Fite
Two girls make art to take with them at the Echota Behavioral Health booth at the Christmas Village in Stilwell.
photo: Renee Fite
First time vendor Honey Hill Farmstead, Jenifer Reynolds and daughter Breanna Green, offered goat milk products such as soaps, lip balm and crocheted animals.
“It’s our first market,” said Reynolds. “I’m glad we could do our first market in Stilwell.
They raise the goats.
“We use these products made from dairy goats’ milk to buy feed for them,” Reynolds said.
Lavender soap is Breanna’s favorite, she said.
Another first time vendor, Littlefoot Crafts from Wagoner, offered gods eyes and sun catchers.
“It’s been good,” said Ben Ferrel, who learned to make the items he was selling in a Native American cultural class at school. “I’m looking forward to seeing Smash Mouth.”
Shopper Jada Nofire came to get food from one of the outside vendors before the football game, and found the Christmas Village.
“We got lip butter and a cow,” said Nofire.
Fairfield Baptist Church was selling baked goods to raise money for missions.
“In July we took a missions trip to Alaska and saw a village there, we were able to help,” said Kasey Littledeer.
Special Events Committee member Kathryn Rackliff visited with each vendor throughout the day, including Tina Rose with Rose Farms.
Rose said she loves talking to all the people.
“I like telling them where my little store is and about making these items,” said Rose. “I like to educate a lot and want people to know why eating honey is better than sugar. If it’s grown in Stilwell and canned and made fresh with no pesticides it’s healthy. We need to know these things.”
Tina Leach, Brittany Drywater and Kasey Littledear set up a booth to benefit Fairfield Baptist Church missions.
photo: Renee Fite
Breanna Green, with Honey Hill Farmstead, helps Jada Nofire with a purchase, as her daughter, Kyloa Nofire looks at stuffed animals.
photo: Renee Fite
At the Dibble and Dabble Creations booth, Dana Nichols was setting up personalized items.
“My husband Chad made the wooden deer, and trees to put ornaments in,” said Nichols.
At the Rodew Creations booth, Kirstie Adair was selling bead work, ornaments, earrings and more.
“Christmas events are my favorite,” said Adair. “I like meeting people and I always set up at the Cherokee Holiday to see lots of people. We enjoy when people like our stuff.”
Vendors Ella and Mike Oprea from Park Hill were selling wooden signs, knives, purses and necklaces.
“We love Christmas, and seeing Santa and the train today,” said Ella. “We saw Smash Mouth in San Jose on 1994, where they are originally from. We came from California.”
Outdoor vendor The Chubby Pig, from Wagoner, was a busy place.
“This was someplace different for us, and we wanted to see Smash Mouth,” said Chris Casteel.
One food vendor, Boys and Girls Club sold Walking Tacos, a bag of Doritos with chili in it.
Rosita Gallardo, with the Boys and Girls Club, said, “we’re doing this for the kids, they raise money for their supplies. All donations are welcome.”
Gallardo was among the vendors who headed for the Holiday Train show.
“I absolutely loved it, it felt very nostalgic to me especially born in the 90s, said Gallardo. “Of course my son Kingston was like, ‘Oh mom, I know this song, it’s from Shrek,’ which almost every kid knows Shrek. The kiddos were singing along with SmashMouth.”
All in all it was a wonderful experience.
“The train was beautiful, and I’m happy Stilwell got to have this possibly once in a lifetime event like this. You don’t get bands that huge to come to Stilwell,” Gallardo said.
Eubanks Produce and Garden Center offered poinsettias to produce, jellies to salsas.
“The entire day was so much fun,” said Nichole Starr with Eubanks Produce and Garden Center. “Dad and I loved visiting with everyone that came by our booth to shop.”
All around it was a wonderful day, including SmashMouth, said Starr, “We loved it and can’t wait until next year.”
Participating vendors in the Larry E. Adair Building included Echota Behavioral Health, Fairfield Baptist Church, Maggie Garcia, Dottie Moon, Amy Butler with Country Lane, Kirstie Adair with Rodew Creations, Boys and Girls Club, Dana Nichols with Dibble and Dabble Creations, Jenifer Reynolds, Dream Star Connections, Eubanks Produce and Garden Center, Jodi Kester, Esther Mouse, Richard Fields, Ella Oprea, Greasy Gathering Place, Tina Rose with Rose Farms, and outside, The Chubby Pig and Young’s Barbecue.
Boys and Girls Club Vista Volunteer Kyle Steward fills a Walking Taco for Kingston Boyce.
All photos and videos on this page are by Renee Fite
