Above, Mackenzie Sager offers her Christmas wishes to Santa Claus Saturday, after Sager and scores of other youngsters visited Santa’s temporary quarters on the southeast corner of the courthouse square in Iola. At left, Cindy Lucas is flanked by her grandson, Jace, and Quackers the Duck at a puppet and storytime session at Around the Corner Coffee Shop. Local merchants have banded together to offer Christmas-themed activities each Saturday afternoon and Thursday evening in downtown Iola. Santa’s House is open 5-7 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Other Christmas activities include the annual Jingle Bell Jog Saturday morning and the Little Miss and Mr. Merry Christmas Pageant at 7 p.m. at the Iola Community Theatre Warehouse. PHOTO COURTESY OF JESSICA QUALLS (LEFT)
Sights of the season
