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IM, Norway, IR among communities planning weekend Christmas events

ALORA BOIVIN OF NORWAY and Everett Olson of Quinnesec stand under the giving tree during the 2018 community tree lighting ceremony at the First National Bank & Trust in Iron Mountain. This year’s event will be Friday evening. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

With a deep blanket of early snow already on the ground, the stage is set in the region to get serious about celebrating the Christmas season.

In Iron Mountain, the annual Christmas Walk event, hosted by the Iron Mountain Downtown Development Authority, will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday with decorating ornaments at the Dickinson County Library. At 4 p.m. children can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, with parents and others having the chance to photograph their children with the cheerful couple.

Cricket Wireless will provide Santa hats to children at the library and during the walk, while the Iron Mountain-Kingsford chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs will hand out jingle bells.

In the parking lot across from the library — decorated with help from Swanson’s Evergreen Nursery — BOSS Snowplow will host outdoor winter activities before escorting the Claus couple to First National Bank & Trust at 5:45 p.m.

At the end of the walk, or about 6 p.m., First National Bank will light the community Christmas tree.

Aristen and Emma Grenier of Hermansville roast marshmallows on Hughitt Street during the 2018 Christmas Walk in downtown Iron Mountain. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

“We want to thank our event partners — First National Bank & Trust, BOSS Snowplow and the Dickinson County Library — for helping us to spread Christmas cheer and make this such a great event for the community,” DDA Program Director Amber Pipp said.

The Christmas Walk each year has drawn more local partners and sponsors, Pipp said.

“The last few years, we’ve seen more of the community come downtown for (the event),” Pipp said, adding several hundred citizens participated in 2018. “I can’t wait to see what this year brings.”

The DDA also will open voting for the downtown window-decorating contest the night of the Christmas Walk. Votes will be accepted until Dec. 16, with the winner announced that week.

Two winners will be awarded a $150 grant and a marketing package sponsored by The Advertiser, The Daily News and Frog Country 101.5/100.7 Radio Now/106.7 The Mountain.

“We are thrilled that so many downtown businesses are taking the time and effort to decorate their windows to add even more beauty to our historic downtown,” DDA Event Coordinator Chelsey Lillge said. “Our downtown is continuing to grow and thrive. This is the perfect way to showcase everyone’s efforts.”

Also Friday, Norway’s annual Santa Parade will begin with fireworks at 6 p.m.

Participants can line up at St. Mary’s Church. The procession will end at Norway City Hall, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting — with treats — to greet children.

Saturday, the Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance, in collaboration with the city of Iron River, will host the 14th annual Christmas in Lights event.

A Christmas craft fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Windsor Center. The West Iron District Library will have a bake sale and visit from Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a chili feed from 4 to 6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., the Christmas in Lights parade will proceed down Genesee Street. Afterward, hot cocoa will be served at the tree lighting and bonfire at the Klint Safford Memorial RV Park.

Kingsford’s festivities start at 5 p.m. Monday at Kingsford City Hall, where Dickinson County Library staff will help craft ornaments.

At 5:45 p.m., a parade of lights led by the Kingsford High School band will leave from the middle school for City Hall, accompanied by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

At City Hall, the KHS chorus will perform selected Christmas songs. The event also will have cookies, hot cocoa, warming barrels and a special performance by a local dance academy.

The countdown to the tree lighting ceremony begins at 6 p.m., when the winners of the sugar cookie contest will be announced.

Only Kingsford residents may enter the contest and all cookies, decorated and non-decorated, must be homemade. Contestants are asked to deliver one dozen cookies to City Hall between 2 and 4:30 p.m., where they will be judged.

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