Ready, set, Christmas

The temperature will hover around zero Saturday, but Shauna Albrecht and her team of 16 people will be dressed up as "tropical Santas" in hula skirts and red hats for an inaugural Christmas event: the Santa Run.

The Havre Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Community Tree Lighting event that evening at Town Square, but just prior to those festivities, Santas and elves will be hitting the streets of Havre.

People will be able to see adult competitors dressed as Santas and youth competitors dressed as elves running and walking down 1st Street in the cold.

Albrecht believes this event is a great way to help out the city of Havre.

"It all goes to good projects — for important things in our community," she added.

Money raised from entry fees will go to the the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce for a variety of local efforts.

Albrecht said that her team from Timber Creek Village, an assisted living facility that she manages, will attend the tree-lighting event after the run and that she is looking forward to seeing how everyone will look dressed up.

"It brings that sense of community and belonging - and just getting together for the holidays and really celebrating what it is about," she added.

Santa Run registration starts at 4 p.m. at Town Square and Master Sports, with the run starting at 4:30 p.m. and heading to 9th Street and back - one mile. Prizes will be awarded to the best costume, fastest Santa and fastest elf.

After the run, the Community Tree Lighting event will start at 5:30 p.m. at Town Square.

For the kids at the tree lighting, the Grinch and Sponge Bob will be showing up for photos, and the Chamber Ambassadors will be passing out raffle tickets to a drawing for two kids' baskets.

The Salvation Army's Havre Service Center will provide hot chocolate to everyone, while choir groups from Havre High School will entertain the crowd.

Carly Yearous, the new choir director, said the Hi-Liters and Belles Voix will be singing carols during the tree lighting.

Yearous believes this event brings the community together.

"It has a unifying effect that sometimes you can't get in any other season or any other event out there," she said.

The Super Certificate Giveaway winners will also be announced at the ceremony, with three prize bundles, worth $925, $600 and $375, but the winners must be present to collect their prize.

Adults must have their registration forms for the drawing dropped off at Holiday Village Mall, Atrium Mall, Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods or the Havre Daily News by 1 p.m. Saturday.

Santa will be at the event for photos, too, though people need to bring their own camera to get a photo.

The Chamber will also be accepting nonperishable food items at the tree lighting to support the Havre Food Bank.

For more information, call 265-4383.