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Cottage Grove outlines holiday events; CPKC train visit set for Dec. 13 with $125,000 food‑shelf goal
Summary
Recreation Services Manager Molly Petraszewski told the Discover Cottage Grove board about a slate of free family events, including the Hail to the Bird 5K, Hometown Holiday, warming‑house services and the CPKC holiday train on Dec. 13; the train fundraising goal is $125,000 for the Friends in Need Food Shelf.
Molly Petraszewski, Recreation Services Manager for the City of Cottage Grove, told the Discover Cottage Grove board on Nov. 25 that the city’s holiday calendar includes multiple family events and charitable fundraisers. The Hail to the Bird 5K will be held at Hamlet Park with a 9 a.m. start and on‑site registration; organizers expected about 600 registered participants. Petraszewski said proceeds support the CPKC holiday train and Friends in Need Food Shelf.
She described the Holiday Lights home tour (live map opened Nov. 12) and Hometown Holiday, a free City Hall event next Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. that will feature wagon rides, Santa and Mrs. Claus, children’s activities, food trucks, a warming tent and live performances. Petraszewski encouraged residents to add addresses to the map and noted about 25 homes had signed up.
Petraszewski said the CPKC holiday train will visit on Saturday, Dec. 13, and the CVB set a $125,000 fundraising goal for the food shelf. "Our goal this year is a $125,000 to raise for the food shelf, and we are well on track to make that goal happen," she said. She added that road closures and wagon rides are planned; staff expected the train to arrive about 5:15 p.m. and the stage to open about 5:30 p.m.
She also reviewed winter offerings: warming houses at eight sites with weekday and weekend hours, planned staffing for warming houses, a potential skate‑rink opening the day after Christmas if conditions allow, cross‑country ski‑trail grooming at River Oaks and snowshoe rentals at Oakwood Park. Petraszewski said the warming houses and park buildings are free to use.
Board members asked about past fundraising totals; Petraszewski said recent years produced over $200,000 in donations and that this year had a higher share of personal donations. She stood for questions and encouraged residents to reserve seats for the River Oaks Santa breakfast (Dec. 21, 9 a.m.–noon), which she said was about 70% full at the time of the meeting.
The board received the presentation with thanks; no formal action was required on the holiday events update.
