Editor's Notebook: Indoor Market Planned in January, New Additions for Winter Wonderland Event

Indoor Market in the Works: Oakdale's parks department staff is lining up vendors for an indoor market planned on Saturdays starting in January at the , said Recreation Superintendent Julie Williams. Staff currently has eight vendors committed that will sell products like bread, jewelry, jam, syrup, greeting cards, candles, wild rice, fruit butter and wine jelly, Williams said. They're hoping to get at least seven more vendors before the market opens, she said.

Sled Dogs, Sliding Hill New Attractions at Winter Wonderland: Oakdale's popular Winter Wonderland event will include a couple of new attractions among the old favorites. Kids can bring their sleds this year, said Recreation Superintendent Julie Williams, since the hill from the new picnic shelter in the will be open for sledding. Also new this year, there will be about 14 or 15 sled dogs at the event, Williams said. They're not sure yet whether the dogs will be giving rides, she said. Returning activities include free breakfast and lunch, a petting zoo, horse-drawn hayrides, a bonfire with s'mores, a candy cane hunt, face painting, and of course, Santa Claus, Williams said.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17.

The Maplewood/Oakdale Lions Club, Oakdale Business and Professional Association and sponsor the free event, she said.

"This is a big one for us," she said. "We’re expecting a thousand-plus people. This is the biggest event that we have all year."