The many events for the annual Elkhorn Christmas Light-Up, were blessed with great weather and just enough snow to make it feel like Christmas.
Starting in the morning at the community library, there were Christmas stories on the hour read by librarian, Mrs. Schellenberg. All day long there were small and large groups of young and young at heart stop by for a story.
Down the street, there was a game of street hockey with many boys and girls playing their best.
One of the major events of the afternoon was the Christmas arts and crafts sale held in the Legion Hall, with a number of vendors from the surrounding area.
Back on the street, members of the Elkhorn Golf Club set up a small putting game on an icy green. And you thought grass greens were tough!
Many businesses have special sales during the day, with colourful Christmas window displays.
As dusk settled in, people gather at the Elkhorn and Area Foundation memory tree and memory board. The tree has grown bigger over the years.
Something extra special this year is that the owner of the former Elkhorn bank building, a mainstay of the street, has decorated the windows with Christmas lights. The building is undergoing extensive renovations, to create a unique living space on the upper floor and rental office spaces on the main floor. These renos have saved part of Elkhorn’s early history as the bank was built in 1911. About the same time, the Ed and Margaret James home was built for the first manager of the bank.
Near the memory tree, a few people gather around a bonfire’s warmth. Members of the Foundation are cooking up hot dogs on the grill with a long line of people waiting, and there’s another table with Christmas baking and hot chocolate.
A few young people have gathered, singing Christmas carols. All around, young children play in the snow.
Soon it’s the moment of light up for the memory tree, which will shine brightly during the Christmas season. Brenda Orr, head of the Foundation, addressed the crowd with messages of thanks and news of the projects the Foundation has supported. With that, the lights are turned on, glowing in the growing cold of the December night.
However, spirits are warmed up by a parade of Christmas floats that include a drive-by Santa and candy thrown to the crowds.
Taking part in the parade is a team and wagon giving tours for people to enjoy Christmas lights throughout the village.
Meanwhile, over at the Elks Hall, club members prepare for the first in-person Chase the Ace evening and supper. The supper is a fundraiser put on by the 2022 Elkhorn grad class and their parents. The grad class has only five members so they are working hard to make their grad a success.
I take one more walk down to the memory tree for some last photos. Around the bonfire, a few people remain.
At this time of the year, the memory board is set up to remember those we have loved and lost.
For me, one group that I remember is many Canadian military men and women, serving far from home during the Christmas season.
