By David Peck
The arrival of Santa Claus, lots of Christmas shopping and a popular movie highlight the sixth annual Main Street Mingle to be held in downtown Lovell next Saturday, Nov. 29.
After cold weather affected the mingle in previous years, the Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce changed the schedule of the big event in 2007 to put more activities in the relative warmth of the afternoon and early evening.
That schedule will be followed again this year. The fun begins at 3 p.m. with a $2 matinee at the Hyart Theatre, sponsored by the Chamber and the Hyart. Showing will be the animated box office hit “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.”
Santa Claus will arrive at 5 p.m., and free photos with Jolly Old St. Nick will follow in the lobby of the Hyart, sponsored by the Lovell Police Dept. Each family will receive a sheet of four photos of each child with Santa.
The annual lighting of the Christmas tree will take place at 6 p.m. at the Mural Park at the corner of Nevada and Main. During the tree lighting event, the Lovell High School and Middle School bands and choirs will perform Christmas music and fry donuts. Hot chocolate will be provided by the Chamber of Commerce.
Downtown
drawing
One of the highlights of the tree-lighting event will be the drawing of $750 worth of prize money in the annual Christmas giveaway. But instead of going from store to store this year, people can simply register at the Hyart lobby before or during the Santa Claus visit or at the Mural Park prior to the Christmas tree lighting.
Ten winners will be drawn at 6:30 p.m. at Mural Park, with each winner receiving $75 in chamber bucks.
Chamber bucks are certificates issued by the chamber of commerce in the name of an individual and can be “spent” at any business in north Big Horn County – Lovell, Byron, Cowley, Deaver and Frannie. A chamber buck is the same as cash at a store, and change can be given if a certificate is not entirely used up with a purchase. The business is then reimbursed by the chamber for the chamber buck.
Many businesses will be offering Christmas specials during the Mingle, and people are encouraged to shop during the matinee and following the Santa Claus, tree lighting and giveaway events.