By: Donovan W. Mann – donovanm@977thebolt.com
Dakota City, IA – Another area Christmas tradition is going to continue as a local community member moves it to a new location for this year.
The Christmas Tree Walk in Humboldt is normally hosted at the Faith United Methodist Church each year for the local community. However, due to concerns over COVID-19 the church decided to not allow the event to be hosted at their location. Instead, LuAnn Johnson decided to organize the activity at a different location so the tradition could live on.
She says that the walk will now happen at Dream Carriage Rides building in Dakota City. “We moved it up here due to the COVID-19” she says. There aren’t going to be as many trees this year but there are enough to make it “really pretty.” Johnson says she has friends who joined her to make it possible. Mr. and Mrs. Claus are also at the event on Friday and Saturday night.
Johnson believes that because of all that has happened this year it is necessary to make sure events like the Christmas Tree Walk still happen. “Really important,” she says “especially this year with everything.” Masks will be required at the event but the important thing is events like this can get people out to enjoy some Christmas time fun. “You know, carry on and try to get some normalcy back” Johnson says.
Johnson has been doing the Christmas Tree Walk for so long she’s lost count and the community was encouraged her to keep the tradition alive. “I have done it for, I don’t know how many years down at the church,” she says and her plan is to continue doing so starting next year. Johnson says people came to her saying the tradition needed to be kept alive. This includes people from Faith United Methodist and those who put up trees. After all, some of the trees are in memorial of lost loved ones. “And that means a lot” Johnson says.
For LuAnn Johnson the event is personal to her. Every year she puts up a tree in honor of her mother. She says that putting up a tree for her mother helps her get through the Holidays.
The Christmas Tree Walk this year will be at the Dream Carriage Rides building in Dakota City. The event is open and will be running through Wednesday, Dec. 30. Each night the event is open on Monday-Friday 4-9 pm and Saturdays and Sundays noon to 9 pm.