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Santa Claus is coming to town!

The Christmas season in Westlock kicks into high gear this weekend as the 2013 Festival of Christmas Wonder comes to town. This year’s festival takes place Nov.
Santa will be at the featured guest at this year’s Festival of Christmas Wonder. The weekend of fun kicks off with Friday’s downtown parade.
Santa will be at the featured guest at this year’s Festival of Christmas Wonder. The weekend of fun kicks off with Friday’s downtown parade.

The Christmas season in Westlock kicks into high gear this weekend as the 2013 Festival of Christmas Wonder comes to town.

This year’s festival takes place Nov. 15-17, and is the continuation of years of getting the community into the Christmas spirit, said Light Up committee member Todd Arth.

“It’s just lots of fun activities planned for that party night,” Arth said.

Starting off the weekend is the Santa parade at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 15. The parade begins on 107 Street just west of Main Street, and heads down Main Street to 104 Street, where it turns east towards its end point at the Pembina Lodge. Arth said it was too early to forecast how big the parade will be, as the weather usually determines how many people will enter a float.

“We’re pushing a little harder this year trying to get more participants, but I find people wait to the last minute to do that,” he said.

Taking place at the same time as the parade is official Christmas Light Up, when the town turns on its Christmas light displays all over the community.

Upon completion of the parade, the rest of the evening’s events ramp up, reaching a crescendo with the fireworks display downtown at 9:15 p.m.

Something new this year is a family dance at the Memorial Hall starting at 6:30 p.m., Arth said.

While kids and their parents are dancing their night away, Santa will be nestled away in the Elks Room at the Memorial Hall, ready to pose for photos and brighten a child’s day.

Also set up in the Elks Room Friday evening is the Westlock Library’s story time and crafts workshop.

Back outdoors, for people wanting to get a jump on their Christmas shopping, downtown businesses will be open until 9 p.m. for that first big rush.

The late night shopping harkens back to the festival’s origins as a retail promotion to kick off the Christmas shopping season. “We thought it was a good idea to have activities and things for the kids to do while their parents shopped.”

It was a night out for families to get a head start on their shopping and just get into the joy of Christmas.

“We want to get the people thinking about Christmas and everybody into the Christmas spirit,” Arth said.

Friday night may be the biggest night of the festival, but events and opportunities last all through the weekend.

Starting Friday and running through Saturday is the North Country Christmas Market in the former SAAN store. The market runs Friday from noon until 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

On Sunday, the Westlock Interact Club, the youth arm of the Rotary Club, is hosting the Little Elves Workshop in the R.F. Staples gym from noon to 3 p.m. It’s a chance for kids to make Christmas crafts for their parents and friends, as well as play some games.

Also running Sunday is the Westlock Ag Society’s 20th annual Christmas craft show and sale at the Westlock and District Community Hall from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

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