Christmas stroll set for Saturday

Havre's Holiday Stroll is set for Saturday, featuring the annual Tree Lighting, a Gingerbread House Competition, Fun Run and more, and the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce is still open for volunteers to help with the events.

Chamber Director Jessica Fagerbakke said the event, previously just known as the Community Tree Lighting, was rebranded this year, to let people know that there's a lot more going on that day around Havre than the tree lighting.

Fagerbakke said they also added the stroll element, with local participating businesses offering prizes to those who take part in the stroll.

People can buy a $2 button from the Chamber, Big Sky Soul, Ben Franklin Crafts or Gary & Leo's Fresh Foods and search local businesses for the number on their button.

People able to find the number, hidden throughout the businesses, will be able to win prizes based on the store the number is found in.

She said the goal of the event was to show people that they don't need to go online or out of town for their holiday shopping, because businesses in town have plenty of wonderful items right in Havre.

Fagerbakke said they have fewer than 100 of the 572 buttons left, but they are still selling them, and businesses have put up thousands of dollars in prizes from 2 to 6 p.m. that day.

Participating businesses include 406 Custom Auto and Sound, Backroads, Bear Paw Meats, Bearly Square Quilting, Ben Franklin Crafts, Big Sky Soul, Bing 'n' Bob's, Cavalier's, Cottonwood Cinemas, Crawford Distillery, Emporium, Gary and Leo's Fresh Foods, Havre Hardware and Home, Hometown Plaza, JM Donoven Designs in Fine Jewelry, Master Sports, Maurice's, Montana Country Boutique, Norman's, North 40, Northern Home Essentials, Northstar Athletic, Simply Natural, Sugar and Dice, Taco John's, The Key, Walmart, Wild Thistle and Yellow Tin Cup.

Fagerbakke said button holders are also automatically entered into the Chamber's super certificate drawing later in the day at Town Square.

Indeed, Town Square will be host to a plethora of events throughout the day including the Montana Special Olympics Subzero Superhero Polar Plunge at 2 p.m., hay rides by the Havre Jaycees from 2 to 7 p.m., the Rudolph Run at 6 p.m., caroling at 6:30 p.m. and finally the tree lighting at 7 p.m.

Children who come for caroling and the Tree Lighting will be able to enter prize drawings after the lighting.

The Rudolph Run costs $25 for the family, $10 for students and $15 for adults.

Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and will be given light-up glasses and necklaces.

Prizes will be given for fastest runner and best costume.

Fagerbakke said fire pits and warmers will be placed throughout the square to keep people warm, and they will also offer bottomless mugs of chili with all the fixings for $10. The local Salvation Army will be offering hot chocolate.

Town Square is also where the winners of the Gingerbread House Building Competition will be announced, with the winners from each category receiving a $25 Chamber gift card.

The entries will be displayed at Ruff Real Estate from now until the announcement and Fagerbakke has encouraged anyone interested to cast their votes for their favorites.

Town Square will also have a backdrop for photos set up throughout the day.

While Town Square is the hub of a lot of events that day, there will also be a craft show at the Holiday Village Mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., run by local artisans.

Also at the mall will be the H. Earl Clack Museum's Dinosaur Christmas for children at their old location from noon to 2 p.m. followed by Cookies and Books with Santa from 2 to 4 p.m. at the mall community room.

Santa will also be at the Santa Train at 5 p.m. at the Amtrak Depot with cookies and hot chocolate for people waiting to greet him when he and Mrs. Claus arrive.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will also make an appearance at the tree lighting later that day.

Fagerbakke said they are always still looking for volunteers for the day and she's happy to hear from anyone interested in helping out.

"We need volunteers to make this whole event come to life," she said.

Fagerbakke said Van Orsdel United Methodist Church will also be having their Live Nativity from 5 to 7 p.m. that day as well.

A full list of events and more details can be found at the Chamber's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HavreAreaChamberof

Commerce, on their website at https://havrechamber.com/events/community-tree-lighting or on Instgram at https://www.instagram.com/havre_chamber/ .