The mall isn't a bad place to see Santa. But, if I was a kid, I'd rather catch him at Tannebaum Forest in Amana.
See, in addition to the fun of bending the big guy's ear about what you want for Christmas, you get to wander through a mystical forest filled with decorated trees. These aren't just any trees, either. There's every kind of tree you can imagine.
Some trees have themes. For example, "monkey sock" decorations dangle from one evergreen's branches. (For those who are unfamiliar with monkey socks, they're the brown and tan socks with red triangles on the heel. If you sew them into a monkey doll, the red heel serves as the monkey's mouth. The only reason I know this is because my grandpa wears these socks.) One tree features several red poinsettias, and another contains lots of critters, like lizards and frogs.
Some of the trees are simply beautiful. One was frosted with a dusting of faux snow, and others showcased a single but unique color of lights, like blue or purple.
It's pretty much impossible to be a Grinch at the forest. If trees aren't your thing, there's a gorgeous nativity, a silent auction of wreaths and, if you go at the right time, live entertainment. The Eastern Iowa Brass Quintet treated everyone to Christmas carols when I was there. In the center of the room, a 17-foot German Christmas pyramid (imagine a giant version of those decorations that spin when candle smoke propels their paddles). If nothing else, you can grab a snack from Saint Nick's Cafe. I recommend the hot cider 'cause it warms you up. The 100-year-old barn isn't heated, although organizers were kind enough to arrange for space heaters where people huddled up to thaw out their fingers. So, if you go, dress warm.
If you're wondering who puts this on and why, here's the scoop. For the past seven years, local businesses have bought and decorated trees. People who tour the forest make donations ($2 is the suggested amount), and those proceeds, along with money from the silent auction, go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, they're sponsoring an 8-year-old named Brock. Jon Childers, president of Amana Merchants Inc. and an organizer of the event, said it costs $10,000 to send the family to Disney World, and the goal is to come up with at least half of that and have matching donations cover the rest.
Tannenbaum Forest is open through Dec. 10. For a schedule, visit www.festivalsinamana.com/prelude.html.
As for On the Street, join Carly next week at Marion's Christmas in the Park.