Holiday in the Village: A Little Ohio Town with a Big Heart

GOOD MORNING OZARK AMERICAN JOURNAL™ | DISCOVERING AMERICA

By Al Timberlane | Elida, Ohio | November 7, 2026

Good morning, America! I'm Al Timberlane, coming to you from the little village of Elida, Ohio, where neighbors and visitors have gathered for Holiday in the Village — Shop, Dine & Explore.

The celebration runs today, November 7, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., around the corner of Plum Street and West Main Street. There's coffee, pizza, books, games, crafts and small-town hospitality.

The Village Square

We're standing by a handsome brick building with arched windows and the American flag flying out front. It is home today to The Story Room bookstore and Village Coffee House, where folks can browse books, enjoy coffee or Italian ice, and visit with friends.

We met Nat Mailhot and Olivia, who have helped bring this community celebration together. Nat runs the coffee shop and invests time and energy in this village. We saw visitors choosing red or green scratch-off cards for a chance to receive coffee or another drink.

Local recollections say that the old building once housed the town hall and local law enforcement offices, and perhaps a basement jail. The history is not yet documented, but the stories remind us that these buildings have lived many lives.

Fired Up 4 Good Joins the Celebration

Our friends at Fired Up 4 Good are set up right out front. Their pizza ovens are burning, and the team led by founder Andrew Thomas is bringing freshly prepared pizzas to the people. Their menu says 10 percent of every pizza sold supports local nonprofits.

Shop, Dine and Explore

There's Whiskers & Wizards Game Lounge, Schaefer Auto Detailing, Empty Hands Martial Arts, local vendors, and the Historical Society of Elida Museum. We also photographed the American Township Fire Department and its bright red emergency vehicles.

A Little Village with a Big Heart

Whether you're visiting the bookstore, exploring the museum or simply sharing a conversation over coffee, you can feel the investment people have made in this village. This is how community stories are kept alive.

We'll be meeting more vendors and sharing more stories throughout the day. Join us, support the local businesses, and enjoy the holiday spirit.

And it's all happening right here at the corner of Plum Street and West Main Street in Elida, Ohio!

I'm Al Timberlane, and this is Good Morning Ozark American Journal™ — bringing America's stories home, one community at a time. Imagine tomorrow today.

Published by Al Timberlane Entertainment Company and Imagination Films. Good Morning Ozark American Journal™ is part of our Discovering America series.