“OUR Christmas Story” coming to Tomahawk: Kickoff To Christmas, Win the Window part of happening holiday events

FOR THE TOMAHAWK LEADER

Once upon a time there was a quaint little town in northern Wisconsin that celebrated Christmas in a big way. The stores on Main Street and even those to the north and south were strung with lights. There was a parade of festive floats. The sidewalks were lined with people from near and far.

Santa would arrive at dusk on Friday night and throw the switch to light the tree. All the store lights came on. Then Santa found a spot to greet the youngsters and hear about the Christmas presents they wanted. The town was alive with shoppers enjoying activities. Stores stayed open later than usual. It was a grand holiday season.

Sadly over the years the holiday spirit began to fade. The Christmas tree disappeared, the parade stopped, the lights dimmed. The holiday spirit dimmed as well. Oh there was still a holiday season but it was not as festive. Not as bright, not as grand as it was in past years.

Earlier this year three Christmas Fairies got together and decided to bring back the Hometown Christmas Spirit. Their names, Roxanne Consolver, Mary Smith and Dalpha Halverson, decided to go all out – and why not? Working with the Tomahawk Regional Chamber and Tomahawk Main Street, but as a separate Hometown Christmas Committee, they came up with ideas to dazzle and delight this Christmas season.

Here is how they plan to bring back the Christmas spirit:

Put a live Christmas tree back at the end of Main Street, behind the water fountain in a permanent stand. The tree will be donated by Falls Inn in Spirit Falls. The stand was designed by Justin Swan and manufactured free of charge by Daigle Brothers. City staff set the stand that will be used to hold the Christmas tree.

The tree will be decorated with “Lights for a Cure” purchased through Relay For Life for $5 a bulb. The public can purchase a white light – in memory of, a green light – in honor of, or a red light – to show support for cancer survivors. Bulbs can be purchased at City Hall through Friday, Nov. 15 until 5 p.m.

Every business on Main Street will be displaying an artificial Christmas tree in their window this season, decorated as they wish. The Christmas Fairies invite anyone with an artificial tree (two feet to five feet tall) that they would like to donate or loan out to give them a call. They are also seeking any old decorations in good condition that could be used as the goal is to help businesses decorate at minimal or no cost.

Business on Main Street will be given a free evergreen spray to hang on the outside of their door, made by one of the fairies.

Also, there will be” live mannequins” in downtown windows during a two-hour period. All mannequins will be volunteers. Those wanting to take part should contact the fairies.

There will be strolling carolers dressed in Dickens attire. Anyone wanting to stroll and sing as part of the event should contact Mary “the fairy” (Smith).

A businesses on the end of Main Street has volunteered to hold a marsh mellow pit in their back room. There will be treats and the opportunity to warm up with some hot cocoa, all donated of course.

A Secret Santa (shshsh) will be popping up and wandering the downtown to hand out little gifts, coupons and gift certificates from and for businesses on Main Street.

There will be voting boxes in businesses to vote for the best window scene. Votes will be $1 apiece and money raised will be donated back through the Main Street program to be used for next year’s Hometown Christmas program. The winning business' window will be awarded a plaque and have bragging rights for the entire year.

The Grinch and Cindy Loo Hoo will be available providing youngsters a photo opportunity at a designated business.

One big move this year, Santa will be relocating to inside City Hall in the council chamber to greet children on Saturday, Nov. 30 during the chamber’s “Kickoff to Christmas” celebration. One the fairies will also be on hand that day to help guide foot traffic.

So when is all this fun and entertainment set to take place? The first-ever Hometown Christmas is scheduled to be held in downtown Tomahawk on Friday, Dec. 13 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The goal of this event is to promote fun and shopping in the downtown, just like it was in the days gone by.

The Hometown Christmas Committee is a volunteer group separate from the chamber and Tomahawk Main Street. Some additional ideas the new committee is thinking to create in 2020 include adding colored lights to downtown light poles or trees and possibly holding a parade of ATV/UTVs pulling floats.

As part of additional efforts to raise Christmas spirit this season, the chamber’s Kick Off to Christmas will be held on Saturday, Nov. 30. The day will feature free movie matinees at Tomahawk Cinema and downtown horse drawn wagon rides sponsored by Tomahawk Community Bank from 1-3 p.m. Also during that time, Santa will be at City Hall to visit with children and give them goody bags that will include candy cane stops in the downtown.

The day will conclude with the Tomahawk Christmas tree lighting, in the median next to Tomahawk Community Bank, at 5 p.m. The Kickoff to Christmas is sponsored by the city of Tomahawk and police station, Tomahawk Community Bank, Westberg Tree Farm, Park City Credit Union, Duwayne Kreager Insurance, Health First and Lake of the Torches.

Along with the Kick off to Christmas and Hometown Christmas festivities, Tomahawk Main Street will once again be holding the widely popular Win the Window program starting Sunday, Dec. 1 where shopping local can make you a big winner.

Those wanting to help the Christmas Fairies with the first ever Hometown Christmas events, contact Roxanne Consolver at 715-612-9743, Mary Smith at 715-453-5187 or Dalpha Halverson at 715-564-3370.