Oskaloosa Christmas Walk it’s first year
The Antique Peddler in Oskaloosa was a favorite stop along the Christmas Walk
The Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group held it’s first Christmas Walk this year. This event replaced the raffle that had been in place for the previous years.
As mentioned in a previous story, the day began with a pancake breakfast in the center court of Penn Central Mall from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. From there residents grabbed their maps to the local merchants and started shopping and visiting their way around town.
- True Value Hardware – 202 1st Ave East
- Hall Tree by Geri & Co. – 121 South Market
- Debbie’s Merle Norman – 119 South Market
- The Eagles Nest – 117 South Market
- Bridal Dreams – 115 South Market
- Book Vault – 105 South Market
- Brown’s Shoe Fit – 101 South Market
- Mathew Carpet – 121 High Ave. West
- Marjie’s Menagerie – 121 High Ave. West
- Hunters – 113 High Ave. West
- Oskaloosa Outfits & Antiques – 117 High Ave. East
- The Antique Peddler – 213 High Ave. East
Kathy Scholtus is seen setting up for the vendor fair at Penn Central Mall
You could then head back to Penn Central Mall to complete your downtown shopping. Besides the regular businesses in the mall, there was a craft and vendor fair taking place as well to bring even more variety to the holiday shopper.
- JC Penny’s
- Wood N Stuff
- Gardner-Collier Jewelry
- Maurices
- Penn Central Mall Railroad Club
- Schweser’s
- Osky Spirit Store
- Curves
Groups moved from store to store downtown, this one making a stop at Mathew Carpet
Once you had completed your downtown and mall shopping, you could hop in your car and visit the rest of Oskaloosa’s participating stores on the Christmas Walk. Most destinations were along A Avenue, a major artery for transportation and shopping in Oskaloosa.
For many, visiting as many of the merchants for their opportunity to sign up for cash prizes turned into a game of sorts. The drawing for those prizes was held at the bandstand at 4:30.
- Stam’s Greenhouse – 2421 Highway 92 East
- Bank Iowa – 1710 3rd Ave. East
- Slumberland – 1701 3rd Ave. East (Heartland Square Mall)
- JMG)J Western Exchange – 1516 A Ave. East
- Studio 404 Tan, Spa & Salon – 1211 A Ave. East
- Shady Lodge Mercantile & Trading – 1002 South 11th St.
- OT Communication Solutions – 301 A Ave. East
- The Antique Shop – 406 High Ave. East
- Hy-Vee Food Store – 110 South D St.
- Valley Bank – 509 A Ave West
- Mahaska Drug – 205 North E St.
- Hair Designers – 1210 B Ave. West
- Signatures Salon – 102 North L St.
- H&S Feed/Country Store – 416 Old Hwy 163
- Life Communications Verizon – 209 Cornerstone Dr.
Several of the merchants I spoke with were very happy with the response to the promotion. They spoke of times when their establishments were packed with holiday shoppers, making the rounds around downtown Oskaloosa.
The weather couldn’t have helped out any more. Was a mostly sunny day with high’s in the mid 40’s, and the merchants were quick to point out that this was far better than the weather we had last year that seemed to do it’s best to dampen the Christmas shopping crowds by always snowing what seemed to be on the weekends.
For a first year, this was a good start to a new Oskaloosa tradition. Keep an eye out for next years Christmas walk and don’t miss out if you weren’t able to make it to this years.
