Kick off the Christmas holidays in charming small town style! The day begins with an invigorating 5K Fun Run through the streets of Smithville chasing the Gingerbread man. Cost is $10 to run which includes a t-shirt that attests you can “Run, run as fast as you can…You can’t catch the Smithville Gingerbread Man!”
  After the fun run, the arts and crafts market will be open for business at the Smithville Recreation Center while the Lost Pines Artisans Alliance holds their art event featuring one-of-a-kind items on Main Street. Chamber members can set up a booth at the Business Expo at no charge (there is a minimal fee for non-members) to highlight their products and services.
  For the kids, there is a free expanded Children’s Fest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with game booths, contests, face painting, bounce house, and petting zoo. There will also be pony rides and a "grafitti train" for the kiddos to paint on Main Street. While the kids are smiling, zip over to the gazebo area for a photo with Santa and use our "gingerbread family" facade for a fun novelty photo. While you’re busy shopping the holiday market at the Rec Center, there are crafts for the children such as gingerbread house decorating and tree decoration.
   The air is festive throughout the day with live music featuring local choirs at the gazebo and the annual lighted parade just after dark. There is no cost to be a part of the parade, you just have to register ahead of time with the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is even broadcast on the Internet so that our friends from far away don’t miss a single glimmering bulb. The parade is concluded with Santa waving from atop the city’s fire engine and wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas!”
  During Festival of Lights in 2006, community volunteers, chamber directors and city employees came together to bake the World’s Largest Gingerbread Man… and though it was a bit smoky-tasting after being baked in the outdoor “oven,” it was definitely edible. Hundreds lined up to sample a bite of Guinness World Record history!