Cold weather postpones Christmas activities

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

The freezing temperatures of last weekend were the main reason why the Celebration of Lights organizers chose to postpone their annual event. Following that decision many other Christmas festivities were put on hold until Dec. 6 when the weather will be a balmy 2 degrees, with a low of -6, opposed to the -34 with the wind chill we saw on Nov. 29.
“Due to the extremely cold weather this past weekend, the Celebration of Lights committee made the decision to reschedule the Christmas Park opening to this coming weekend, Saturday, Dec. 6 in order for families to come out and enjoy the annual festivities,” said Rose Hamrlik, president of the Celebration of Lights Christmas Park.
“There will be a charity BBQ, hot chocolate and cookies, raffles in the Remax tent, music and fireworks are all planned for the evening.”
“We want it to be comfortable for everybody, nobody is going to come out if it’s -30, we want everybody to come out and enjoy it,” said Tracey Rogers with Aztec Real Estate, organizers of the Santa Claus parade and the free movie, which were also postponed.
“We want everybody to come out and enjoy a full day of festivities.”
The Aztec-sponsored free movie was also rescheduled to Dec. 6. ‘The Polar Express’ will be playing free of charge at 1:30 p.m., doors open at 1 p.m. Seating is limited, and Aztec is asking people to bring a non-perishable food donation for the local food bank with them.
Santa in the Park will be after the movie, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and then it will be time for the parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Following the parade, head up to the Ag Grounds for the Light Up the Night festivities.