While temperatures were in the single digits, with wind chills bringing them negative, it didn’t detract people from attending Mount Vernon’s Magical Night.

And even some unexpected guests made a brief stop for the night.

At the cookie decorating station at First Presbyterian Church’s fellowship hall, volunteers worked to safely relocate a bat who was discovered there. Said bat was safely collected in an empty cookie
box and relocated.

Pastor Vicki Fisher said that the soup supper at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church had steady traffic throughout the evening.

“We added six additional tables to the fellowship hall following the soup sup- per in 2023, and we came close to having all seats filled at one time,” Fisher said.

The Rooted Youth Group, a collaboration of youth from First Presbyterian Church, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church, helped provide the volunteers who helped at that event.

And while people might have wondered aloud “why does the outside haveto be so cold?” the outdoor activities at Magical Night, like Saint Paul Lutheran Church’s Living Nativity Scene drew crowds for the 6:15 and 7 p.m. showing.

Area businesses were open during the community event, with some like Abbe Creek Gallery offering cider, cookies and their window space for Dance Arts Iowa performers.