QUINCY — Grant County Fire District 3 decked out their ladder truck in lights, Santa posed for pictures and the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum told the Christmas story during the Quincy Valley Christmas celebration Friday night.

The evening’s events were sponsored by the museum and the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Catalina Blancas said it’s held every other year.

The light snow that fell Friday morning didn’t slow the activities down at all.

“It actually added to the festivities,” Blancas said. 

The fire truck led a small parade of lights down First Avenue SW, ending at the Quincy Community Center, where Santa was waiting to talk to children and let parents snap a picture. Most children were happy to see Santa, but not everybody.

“No,” one little boy shouted when his mom asked if he was ready for a picture with Santa. “No. Noooo.” And he started to cry. 

Santa walked over to stand with the family for a picture, out of the little boy’s sight, and just like that the tears stopped. 

“Sometimes you’ve got to be creative when the kids are crying,” said Santa, also known as Kent Bacon. 

Bacon has been playing Santa for about 25 years, he said. Mrs. Claus, Bacon’s wife, Kim, said she started helping out about four years ago. She was distributing candy canes to the children Friday night.

Children sat on Santa’s knee and talked over their Christmas list, while moms and dads snapped pictures. Bacon likes playing Santa so much he had a custom suit made. 

It’s a fun job but it keeps him busy, Bacon said. For 2023, he started the weekend before Thanksgiving and as of Friday had about 20 more gigs to go. 

Volunteers acted out the parts of the Christmas story at the “Living Nativity” set up at the museum. Other volunteers dressed in period costumes served as guides, directed traffic and sang carols.

A cup of hot cocoa awaited after people had gone through the stations, and a chance to look at the Nativity collection assembled by Heidi Manly, on display at the barn. Manly estimated she had about 40 on display, ranging from pottery figurines to straw and natural materials to fabric. 

Some served as mementos as well, such as the set purchased by a friend in Haiti. The friend had gone to Haiti to adopt a child, she said. Others were gifts from family members.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at [email protected].