Holiday on First builds off past success

By Nick Joos

Express Editor

An annual holiday celebration in Monticello has grown each year since its inception in 2020, and organizers say this year will be bigger than ever. 

The 2025 Holiday on First celebration is sure to get people in the holiday spirit and bring folks together to celebrate in downtown Monticello, according to Parks and Recreation Director Jacob Oswald and P&R Adult Programs and Special Events Coordinator Kara Burrack. 

The Christmas festivities will take place from 4-7 p.m. Dec. 13 all throughout downtown Monticello.

“It’s a staple of town,” Burrack said of Holiday on First. “It brings many entities and organizations together and it brings the holiday magic. At this point we have over 120 volunteers putting it together, so that’s collaboration in creating something awesome.”

The first iteration of Holiday on First in 2020 took place in the pocket park and had around a dozen volunteers, Oswald said. Since then, it’s grown in size and impact.

“Maybe 300 people showed up in 2021,” Oswald recalled. 

Despite an ice storm walloping the area during the event in 2024, Oswald estimated 600 souls ventured out to ring in the season during the event. In 2023, over 1,000 took part. 

“There is no precipitation in the forecast at this point (for this year),” Oswald said. “We are thinking we’ll see 2,000 or more people.”

Holiday on First events are strewn throughout the downtown area businesses and buildings and include staples like photos with Santa Claus, a live nativity scene and edible treats like hot chocolate and cookies. 

New this year are elf-themed games and ornament decorating in the Monticello Main Street office. Mexican hot chocolate is another new offering thanks to the Jones County Migrant Inclusion Group. 

“Another fun thing this year is music Bingo,” Oswald said. “In the past we have had live entertainment in the community building, but this year we have the Trivial Dudes doing music Bingo. With that, we’re looking to draw older populations and people without kids to give them something else to do.” 

Both Oswald and Burrack said much gratitude is owed to business partners who host events and sponsor the event. Volunteers are also vital. For example, Monticello National Honor Society students are coordinating ornament decorating in the Monticello Main Street office and will offer a variety of games for adults and kids in the parking lot. 

This community buy-in is present today thanks to years of building up the festival, Burrack said.

“When it started, it was Parks and Rec. and the library and that was it,” Burrack said of organizers. “But (now) you also have the school heavily involved in the games and more businesses are participating with events in their stores. The bringing of people together to pull it off as a community, and to bring the community together, is something that’s pretty special.”

Holiday Events and Locations 

Monticello Public Library -- Gingerbread houses, elf hats, elf lanterns and snowflake ornaments

Renaissance Center -- Live music by Pete Temple, a holiday meal, elf village and sponsor booths

Community Building -- Music Bingo with Trivial Dudes, holiday decorations and memorial luminaria (in the parking lot)

Monticello Custom Interiors -- Selfies with Santa

Advantage Home Medical -- Live nativity

Old Theisen’s Building -- Sarah Boyle and a tree walk

Jones County Migrant Inclusion Group building -- Mexican hot chocolate

North Elm Street -- Carriage rides

Near Monticello Custom Interiors -- Trackless train rides

La Belle Boutique -- Cookies

Pocket Park & Nightingale parking lot -- Hot chocolate

Main Street office -- Elf games and ornament decorating

Treasured Weddings -- North Pole s’mores stop

Superior Appliance -- Coloring contest

Muddy boots -- Coloring page

First Street -- Touch-a-truck

Honeybee Boutique -- Puppy meet & greet with Animal Welfare Friends

Multiple businesses -- Christmas window display contest

Digifarm -- Ball drop at 7:05 p.m.

Corner of First and Main -- Christmas Star lighting at 7:10 p.m.