We had a tremendous turnout and AMAZING support from the entire Cuyuna Lakes area and beyond for our 2021 event. THANK YOU to everyone that attended, entertained, volunteered, sponsored, spread the word, decorated their storefronts, held specials, or otherwise supported the event.

We appreciate it and feel so blessed to be a small part of such a wonderful community!

PHOTO CREDIT: KELLY HUMPHREY

For additional photos and videos from the night, visit the Brainerd Dispatch page:
www.brainerddispatch.com/community/events/7310168-A-Cuyuna-Christmas

Join businesses and organizations throughout the Cuyuna Lakes area as we celebrate the spirit, sights, and sounds of the holiday season. Festivities start with the annual Girls Night Out on Thursday, December 2 and continue with activities throughout the next two days.

Saturday’s family-friendly “Snow Many Smiles” at Crosby Memorial park will include live outdoor performances, spectacular fireworks, games and activities, creative crafts, festive food, holiday shopping, the Tree of Love ceremony, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus. This is a free community event that’s sure to bring joy and merriment to the whole family.

View the PDF/newspaper insert for more information or check below as details and activities are updated…

Shop on the Cuyuna Range from November 30 – December 2 and receive stamps at various businesses. Entry forms available in the Nov. 24 C-I Courier or at participating businesses. Stamped entry forms delivered to the Ironton Legion by 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, will be eligible to win $500 and several door prizes. Come for the designer handbag raffle and stay for the delicious burger specials! A Business Bonanza, featuring unique gifts and crafts, will also be held at the Deerwood Auditorium from 1 to 7 p.m.

• 1-7 p.m. – Home-Based Business Bonanza @ Deerwood Auditorium
• 4-8:30 p.m. – Burger specials @ Ironton American Legion
  • Hamburger, $3.25
  • Cheeseburger, $3.75
  • Bacon Cheeseburger, $4.75
  • Mushroom Swiss Burger, $4.75
  • California Burger, $4.50
  • Add Beer Batter Fries, $2.50
  • Buttermilk Shrimp with Fries, $8
  • Chicken Strips with Fries, $8
• 8:20 p.m. – Raffle drawing for four designer handbags @ Ironton American Legion
• 8:30 p.m. – Winners announced @ Ironton American Legion

Click on the flyer for more details >>

•  4-6 p.m. – Candlelight hiking @ Cuyuna Country State Recreation Trails
  • Join CRMC’s Walk with a Doc leader, Dr. Wendi Johnson, at a candlelight hiking event along the beautiful Cuyuna State Recreation Area State Trails. Everyone is welcome to bring luminaries in honor of lost loved ones to suicide. Weather permitting. Gather at the Hallett Center of Crosby parking lot and hit the trails as a group.
•  6:30 p.m. – Reindeer Rump Mega Meat Raffle @ Deerwood American Legion
•  7-11 p.m. – Jingle Bell Jam @ Deerwood American Legion
  • Includes live music by Yesterdaze Gone, holiday attire contest, no cover charge, drink specials

• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Lunch with Santa @ Deerwood Auditorium, hosted by Garrison Bay Lake Area Lions & The Deerstand
  • View/download the flyer for more details
  • Registration has closed for the Lunch with Santa event. If you have any questions, contact Cathe at cathe.picek@gmail.com.
    
• 2 -6 p.m. – Snow Many Smiles @ Crosby Memorial Park
  • Crosby-Ironton High School Chamber singers
  • Face painting, crafts & games
  • Hot cocoa, soup, and popcorn
  • “Santa’s Stable” Petting Zoo
  • Live entertainment
  • Letters to Santa
  • Cookie decorating
  • Photo booth with Buddy the Elf
  • Readings of the Christmas Story by local ministers
  • Bonfires, maintained by the Crosby Fire Department
• 2 p.m. – Just For Kix performance
• 2:30 p.m. – Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive via firetruck
• 2:30-4 p.m. – Complimentary family photos by Sothers Photography
• 3-5 p.m. – Various roaming entertainers
• 3:45 p.m. – Tree of Love Ceremony
  • The 37th annual Tree of Love lighting ceremony will take place during Saturday’s events. As a special fundraiser for CRMC Hospice, the Tree will be illuminated with lights in memory or honor of loved ones and continue to shine throughout the holiday season. For details or to purchase a bulb visit www.treeoflove2021.givesmart.com by Nov. 30. For more information visit www.cuyunamed.org or call 218-546-2311.
• 4 p.m. – Tigirlily performance, band shell
• 4:45 p.m. – Fire dancers
• 5:15 p.m. – Tigirlily performance, band shell
• 6 p.m. – Fireworks over Serpent Lake
• 7 p.m. – Cash raffle drawing @ Ironton American Legion

All proceeds will benefit Smiles for Jake, a suicide prevention movement.

Raffle tickets for cash prizes are now being sold as part of A Cuyuna Christmas! Tickets are only $2 and are now available at Cuyuna Lakes Pharmacy, Deerwood American Legion, Deerwood Bank, Fireshack, Ironton American Legion, and Town Tavern. First prize is $1,000; second $750; third $500; fourth $250; fifth $100; and sixth through ninth prizes are $50 Ironton Legion gift certificates.

Winners will be drawn Saturday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. at the Ironton American Legion. Must be 18 or older to purchase ticket or win prizes. Need not be present to win. (Ironton Legion Charitable Gambling Premises #00148-002.)

Starting on November 30, event commemorative cups will be sold for $10 each at the Ironton and Deerwood Legions and include one free beverage (while supplies last, restrictions apply).

Try to find the official Cuyuna Christmas Medallion!

Clues will be posted twice a day (8 a.m. and 4 p.m.) on the Crosby-Ironton Courier’s website: www.c-icourier.com and in its front office window located at 12 East Main Street in Crosby until the official medallion is located. The first clue will be posted Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 8 a.m. No age limit and no fee to participate.

Notify the C-I Courier you have located the medallion by taking a photo holding the medallion and texting it to 218-839-5211 or stop by the C-I Courier office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo of the winner(s) will be posted at www.c-icourier.com, on the C-I Courier’s Facebook page and published in the C-I Courier. No immediate C-I Courier staff or those living in their homes will be eligible to participate. The winner will receive $50 and a one-year subscription to the C-I Courier hard copy and e-edition (valued at $100). Have fun and good luck!

‘Tis the season to get creative and WIN with the Cuyuna Christmas Holiday Spirit Art Contest

Youth in grades kindergarten through sixth can build their confidence by coloring or decorating the art below by using everyday objects – like macaroni, twigs, or fabric. All entries must be received at the Crosby-Ironton Courier by noon Friday, Dec. 4. Artwork will be displayed at Lunch with Santa Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Deerwood Legion for a people’s choice award. Prizes awarded in categories for students in grades K-2, grades 3-6, and people’s choice. Winners announced at the event and in local media. Artwork will not be returned and may be used in future marketing for A Cuyuna Christmas.

The art contest will be printed and distributed in the Crosby-Ironton Courier on November 24 and in the Brainerd Dispatch on November 28.

OR click here to download and print it now! 

It’s time to get out your best cookie recipes!

Bake and decorate your favorite Christmas cookie and submit your entry to Mixed Company – A Kava House in Crosby for a chance to win prizes. Categories include:

• youth (ages 4-14 years),
• young adults (ages 15 years or older),
• families/multi-generational (those who bake together), and
• professionals (those who are paid to bake).

Bake five samples to be judged. Submit sealed entries to Mixed Company on Tuesday, Nov. 30, with recipe and entry form (available at Mixed Company). Submissions will be judged by taste, presentation and originality on December 1 and will be on display for people’s choice voting during Girls Night Out on December 2. Winners will also be displayed at Cuyuna Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 4.

>> download the Bake-Off flyer

Crosby Memorial Park is located on Serpent Lake, off of Hwy 210 and one block from Main Street, Crosby.

Ample parking will be available in Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s employee parking lot in Crosby across Highway 210 from the hospital’s main entrance. A free shuttle service will be provided to the park event.

Be sure to dress warm!