The Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents this holiday season to consider shopping locally to support area businesses.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Kalona and area businesses will host open houses and have specials available to shoppers. The Chamber is also planning special events for the Christmas holiday and the first few months of 2026, including the Kalona Home Show in March.

Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce Director Tonia Poole says shopping locally helps create and maintain jobs that residents in the area need. Poole says, “Another aspect of shopping local is when you support your local businesses, they give generously back into our community, whether its the schools, fundraisers, donating items or financially. When you shop local, it enables those businesses to give immense amounts back into those places of need.”

The annual Christmas in Kalona event is scheduled for December 6th. The day’s schedule is full with kids’ walking stocking, music and campfires downtown, a live Nativity, a Christmas market at the Kalona YMCA, and a lighted golf cart parade starting at 5 p.m. In addition, the Kalona Historical Village will host a Christmas Tree Walk from 4 to 7 p.m. with live music.