By Nancy Huddleston, Editor

Looking to find the holiday spirit?

Then head downtown Thursday, Dec. 4 for the second annual WinterFest celebration between 5 and 8 p.m.

Luminaries will line 123rd Street from Natchez to Princeton avenues and local choirs will be singing while anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus to help “magically” light the Community Tree at 6 p.m. 

The event is sponsored by the Savage Chamber of Commerce and the city of Savage. The second-annual event began last year as a way to bring a hometown holiday atmosphere to the downtown area. It was a huge success, as approximately 1,000 flocked downtown to soak up the holiday spirit.

“The city has done a great job to fix up the downtown area and make it a place we can all be proud of,” said Chamber Executive Director Lori Anderson, “So this is one way we can bring more excitement downtown.”

Activities

New this year is a holiday scavenger hunt. Participants will be given a card and a map to find a candy cane hidden at six businesses. Each business will have a special holiday stamp to put on participants’ cards and when they have found all six candy canes, cards should be returned to be entered into a contest to win a $100 Target gift card.

“This is a family event that allows everyone to enjoy the evening and get to know downtown,” Anderson said.

Santa Leo will be back again this year and will be inside the Savage Arts Studio at 5 p.m. to hear children’s wishes. He will take a break just before 6 p.m. to head down to the Depot on the back of a restored fire truck to “magically” light the Community Christmas tree on the corner of the town square lot.

Horse and carriage rides will once again be offered, but this time in a Cinderella-style carriage. Resident Karl Bohn might also come down with his Percheron horses and one of his wagons.

Cal’s Market will be set up in the town square parking lot selling Christmas Trees and other holiday garland while carolers from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church will be making various stops and singing holiday music.

Mayor Janet Williams and some members of the Dan Patch Historical Society will also be strolling downtown streets a period costume.

Local businesses along 123rd Street are expected to be open and a WinterFest Business Expo is taking place in the banquet room at Neisen’s, where some 30 local businesses will set up booths with information and holiday wares.

There will also be several groups performing inside Neisen’s, including groups from Center Stage Dance Studio and the Minnesota Valley Gymnastics Center.

Also, the M.W. Savage Elementary School choir will be performing outside of the Dan Patch American Legion on Princeton Avenue at 5:30 p.m. And, Toys for Tots donations are also being collected at the Legion throughout the evening.

SarahCare, next door to Neisen's along 123rd Street, will have kids games available inside courtesy of Play-N-Trade and there will also be representatives of the Minnesota Humane Society in the lobby.

Down the street at The Hamilton, El Loro and Paradise Pizza will be selling food. And, next door at the Savage Art Studios, there will be a holiday art sale and Christmas carol sing-a-long.

There will also be tents set outside District 191 Community Education and Abrakadoodle, where kids crafts will be offered.

Nancy Huddleston can be reached at editor@savagepacer.com.