By Jed Buelow

Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor, Sports, Nature Editor

Downtown Tomahawk will be the place to be this Friday, Dec. 13 as the Hometown Christmas crew hosts the first-ever Our Hometown Christmas Story celebration from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The evening of Christmas celebration and rekindling of holiday spirit from days gone by will feature a number of fun events for the entire family including free hot chocolate and a marshmallow pit for the youngsters to live mannequins that will be in the windows of over two dozen downtown businesses. Store owners have been busy decorating their windows with Christmas trees and other festive attractions and will be staying open later so shoppers can buy any items still needed on the Christmas lists.

The public will be invited to vote for the best decorated window and Fairest Tree in the Land by purchasing votes for $1 apiece. Funds raised will go to support next year’s Hometown Christmas celebration.

Caroling singers dressed in Dickens attire will be strolling the downtown spreading Christmas cheer during the evening. The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who will join Santa and be on hand for photo opportunities.

A free warming station at Pik’s Pub will have free hot chocolate and a marshmallow pit available for the youngsters. A Secret Santa will also be mingling in the crowd handing out specials gifts and coupons to us at stores.

The Hometown Christmas Committee played a big hand in getting the Tomahawk Christmas Tree returned to the downtown after a several year hiatus. Bulbs on the tree were sold to support Relay for Life, which will be lit on the night of the event in memory of (white), in honor of (green) and to show support (red) of cancer survivors.

The Hometown Christmas Committee hopes to make this Friday the start of bringing back all the Christmas spirit that once was on display in the Tomahawk community. Their Hallmark mission is to one day bring back more Christmas lights and the Christmas parade that would include ATVs/UTVs pulling holiday floats.

Back on Nov. 30 the Tomahawk Regional Chamber of Commerce held the first-ever Kickoff to Christmas that included horse drawn carriage rides and a visit with Santa at City Hall. As part of the holiday celebration, Tomahawk Main Street recently kicked off the widely-popular Win the Window that runs now through Dec. 21 where shoppers can purchase items from participating businesses to complete cards for a shot at winning one of five prize windows that will be on display in downtown Tomahawk.

Come help make it a Hallmark moment this Friday as downtown Tomahawk will be the place to be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as the Hometown Christmas events ramps up the holiday spirit in the community.

Anyone with questions or wanting any more info, contact Hometown Christmas Fairies Roxanne Consolver at 715-612-9743, Mary Smith at 715-453-5187 or Dalpha Halverson at 715-564-3370.