BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2024 November 1, Friday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
As Blair, Nebraska prepares for its annual Tannenbaum Festival, new partnerships and proven traditions are coming together to strengthen this cherished community celebration. The 2024 event marks a significant transition in organization while maintaining the warm, festive atmosphere that drew approximately 600 attendees in 2023.
Event Details
The 2024 Tannenbaum Festival will take place on Thursday, November 21, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 218 S. 18th Street in Blair, Nebraska. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony, scheduled for 6:00 PM, anchors an evening filled with holiday activities. Visitors can enjoy a community soup supper, visits with Santa Claus in Santa’s Winter Wonderland, hot cocoa, live reindeer, and Christmas music performed by the Blair Area Community Band. The event also features a craft tent for children, a Letters to Santa mailbox, and visits from Blair Police and Washington County Sheriff’s Departments. The festival is co-hosted by the City of Blair, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and Blair Volunteer Firefighter’s Auxiliary.
New Partnerships and Organization
The 2024 festival brings significant organizational changes. “We were not involved with Tannenbaum last year. 2024 will be the first year we have assisted in the planning of the event,” explains Chamber Director Brad Earley. Despite new partnerships, the event maintains its established framework. “Time will be the same once again this year. No plans to adjust for the foreseeable future,” Earley confirms.
The City of Blair maintains its central role. “The city will handle all the lights and decorating efforts as we have done in the past,” explains City Clerk Brenda Wheeler. She emphasizes the collaborative nature of the event: “Each entity that is there, they are doing their own thing. The only thing that is coordinated is where the different participants are located.”
Community Involvement and Traditions
The popular soup supper continues as a community effort. “We are again asking businesses and service organizations, as well as private citizens, for donations of a roaster of soup,” says Earley, noting specific needs for “Chicken Noodle, a mild Chili, and a Vegetarian option.” The community meal operates like other traditional gatherings such as pancake feeds and fish fries, with volunteers providing the soups.
Venue and Weather Considerations
Experience from previous years has helped organizers refine the event’s layout and contingency plans. “We had approximately 600 people last year and there were no crowd issues that we are aware of,” Wheeler notes. The festival proceeds regardless of conditions: “This is a rain or shine, warm or cold event. It will be held regardless of the weather unless of course, there is a blizzard or something that evening.”
Changes and Improvements
While Earley confirms “There are no new activities or features being added this year to my knowledge,” some refinements are being made. “The Santa Letter writing station will be moved to a tent outside of City Hall so that the line for Santa moves at a better pace this year,” he explains. The outdoor tent setup has been a successful feature of the festival since its second year.
Community Commitment
The event represents a significant community investment. “We believe this is an important event for the community, so city staff devotes their energy to set up and tear down on the day of the event,” Wheeler emphasizes. This dedication ensures the festival can be enjoyed while minimizing impact on regular City Hall operations.
The Tannenbaum Festival, named after the German word for fir tree, connects Blair to a centuries-old tradition of community celebration around the Christmas tree. As it continues to evolve, the festival maintains its core mission of bringing together neighbors for a celebration of the holiday season, building on the heritage of previous community events while creating its own distinct traditions in Washington County.
