The annual Country Christmas celebration in Stevensville, sponsored by the Stevensville Civic Club and local businesses, will be held Friday and Saturday, December 2nd and 3rd.
The evening will kick off with the Parade of Lights, which will be all-vehicle again this year. Last year, the parade was changed from a walking parade to a vehicle parade, and the response to that was overwhelmingly positive. People can still gather at 3rd and Main to enjoy caroling, view the Living Nativity, and hear the reading of the Christmas Story. New this year will also be a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Santa Claus will be riding on one of the decorated fire trucks that will be featured in the parade. Individuals are invited to decorate their vehicles and line up at 6 p.m. in the alley on the east side of Main heading north. The parade will take place around 6:30 p.m. (Call Sean at 406-303-9221 for more information.). After the parade, Santa will be walking around on Main Street.
Before the parade, the winner of the Flip the Switch coloring contest, sponsored by the Town of Stevensville, will flip the switch that turns on the overhead holiday street lights. Also new this year, members of the Stevensville Civic Club have been working hard to add more holiday lights going down Main Street.
A2Z Personnel is sponsoring tree and window decorating contests for local businesses. The public can vote on the trees from December 2nd through December 5th. Voting on the windows goes from December 2nd through December 19th. Winners will get to display the traveling trophies.
An online auction to benefit the Stevensville Kids Backpack and Pantry Program will be held December 6th through 9th. The Christmas trees decorated by local businesses will be in the auction, as well as a number of other specialty items, such as gift baskets, gift certificates and a cork pull, where people can purchase a cork that represents a “mystery” bottle of wine.
As always, Stevensville’s downtown businesses will have open houses and special sales during the Country Christmas celebration.
Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be available on Friday evening, loading at Cenex and Discovery Fitness (formerly Montana Bob’s). You can ride up and down Main Street or catch a wagon to St. Mary’s Mission where there will be a nativity and wreath display, as well free crafts for the children and chapel tours. Historic St. Mary’s Mission and Museum will host the Christmas Around the World and Wreath Display on December 2nd, 3rd and 4th. (You can share your nativities and wreaths in this special exhibit by bringing them to St. Mary’s Mission at 315 Charlos Street. Call 406-777-5734 for information on delivery times.)
A2Z Personnel is also sponsoring a yard decoration contest with voting by the public from December 12th through December 19th. Registration is due by December 28th. Maps and voting forms will be available in the Bitterroot Star’s upcoming editions or at A2Z Personnel, 215 Main, and can be dropped off any time until December 19th. You will also be able to vote on Facebook. The winner will be announced on December 23rd. For more information contact Liz at 406-880-2007.
Billy Donaldson says
Hello! I can’t wait! This is one of our favorite events of the year and we loved being a part in the past. Question… Will the gathering and reading of the Christmas story happen around 6:30-ish?
Thank you!