Lighting up town square
—Photo by MARY MALONE The Christmas tree lighting ceremony, hosted by Creations for Sandpoint, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The tree will light up at 6 p.m.
SANDPOINT — Jeff Jones Town Square will be a little brighter Friday night when the city's Christmas tree is lit up during the annual tree lighting ceremony.
Shery Meekings, executive director of Creations for Sandpoint, said there will be plenty of entertainment and goodies for everyone.
The event will begin with refreshments at 5:30 p.m. and the tree lighting will be at 6 p.m. About the time the tree lights up, Santa will arrive in a fire truck. Also, Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad will be in attendance, a choir from the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint will perform, Christmas stories will be told and there will even be face painting this year.
A variety of healthy baked goods available, Meekings said, as well as cocoa, coffee and cider, with support from the Cedar Street Bistro, Winter Ridge Natural Foods, Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters and Bistro at Home.
Meekings took over the tree lighting ceremony from the Sandpoint's downtown Business Improvement District this year and she said it will be a Creations event.
"I volunteered with the BID for a few years so I've done the event, but it's been a few years," Meekings said. "(At Creations) we kind of do that stuff every day so it's really natural for us just to take it over."
Creations is a 501(c)3 nonprofit located in the Cedar Street Bridge. Along with a family play area, children's boutique and toy store, Creations hosts several programs throughout the year including the upcoming Family Winter Carnival in February and 30 Days of Christmas Crafting throughout the month of December.
"They can make ornaments or card and it's all through donation," Meekings said. "We also offer art classes to the community."