The big evening is just about here: Elk Point’s Christmas Extravaganza goes Friday, and the Elk Point Chamber of Commerce and their energetic community volunteers are working at fever pitch to put the final touches in place.
This year’s contest is already underway, with a new format. Since early last week, participating businesses have been handing out shopping passports and stickers with a minimum $10 purchase, and the pile of filled passports dropped off in the big red drum at Elk Point Co-op is growing rapidly. The draw will be made Friday at 9:30 p.m. at the Extravaganza stage for prizes of $2,000, $500 and $200 Elk Point Bucks, a package of eight tickets for Elk Point Community Choir’s 2011 dinner theatre and a $100 gift card from ARK Autowash.
The Photos with Santa venue at the Seniors Recreation Centre will kick off Friday’s action at 3 p.m., for the first of two sessions, this one going until 5 p.m. and he second after the parade until 9 p.m., with photos to colour and a make-and-take-home craft for the youngsters also at this location. Weather permitting, an outdoor rink east of the Elk Point Visitor Information Eco Centre will be available for free skating from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. that evening.
The focus moves north one block at 4:30 p.m. when two new events get underway, an Activity Lane for the under-five crowd and a scavenger hunt for ages six to 12 will both be based in the area between TD Canada Trust and Elk Point Pharmacy, just off Main Street on 49 Avenue, these events wrapping up at 6:30 p.m. in preparation for the Winter Wonderland Parade. The parade will line up on Railway Ave. beginning at 6:15 p.m. and will head up Main Street at 7 p.m., following the same route as previous years.
F. G. Miller High School’s 19th annual craft and trade show and book sale starts at 5 p.m. Friday, going to 10:30 that evening and open from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Following the parade, the Elk Point Visitor Information EcoCentre will be this year’s depot for wagon rides, which will continue until 9:30 p.m.
Also following the parade, there will be live entertainment at the Extravaganza stage in the Servus Credit Union parking lot and face painting and play centre fun at Footprints. The Credit Union staff will be handing out free hot chocolate on behalf of the chamber and holding a hot dog sale from 7:30 to 9:30 in their lobby.
Extravaganza will once again conclude with a fabulous fireworks finale at 10 p.m., north of the A. G. Ross Arena.