Christmas a D’Lightful season
If you’ve been in downtown Rathdrum after dark recently, you’ve noticed it’s all dressed up for the holidays with festive banners, thousands of lights and a huge wreath decorating City Hall. According to city officials, all is in readiness for this weekend’s downtown party and parade during the town’s December D’Lights celebration.
This year the annual event, sponsored by the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomes the holiday season with a new focus on Main Street and indoor and outdoor activities in addition to the traditional entertainment, visit from Santa, lighting ceremony and Lighted Rig Parade of past years.
“I encourage families, kids, everyone, to come downtown for December D’Lights,” said City Manager Brett Boyer. “We’ve added new things downtown where you can come in and get warm and enjoy the children’s crafts, food, business vendors and an art sale.”
Parks and Recreation Director Lance Bridges agreed. “It’ll be a fun, exciting day with lots of activities, fire pits and hay bales on Main Street, and the famous Northern Lakes fire truck leading the Lighted Rig Parade,” he said.
One of Rathdrum’s newest buildings, the Palidash Building, will be at the center of December D’Lights activities throughout the weekend, including serving as host of Rathdrum’s First Annual Christmas Art Show, which will showcase the art of eight local artists. Promoter and artist Elsie Harvey has put the show together because she says most don’t realize how many quality artists live right here in our own community. “This show will help give them exposure to our community,” she said.
Participating artists include painters working with watercolors, oils and acrylics; a wood sculptor; a photographer; a pressed flower artist; a ceramic painter; and an heirloom quilter.
Santa will arrive on Saturday afternoon with his comfortable lap, merry laugh and candy canes for all. Don’t forget to bring your camera so you can snap a picture of Santa Claus as he listens to Christmas wish lists for young and old alike. There have been rumors around town that Mrs. Claus will be along for the visit; and whispers that the Lakeland High School cheerleaders will serve as Santa’s helpful elves.
Local businesses have also been invited to set up booths to showcase their products or business inside the building on Saturday, and a reader from the Rathdrum Library will share a Christmas story during the afternoon.
Just across the street, children (and their families) will be welcome to warm their fingers and participate in some holiday games and craft activities at City Hall, while shoppers bustle in and out of the downtown businesses offering Christmas open houses, holiday specials and a business contest.
Main Street will take on a festive air as darkness falls. Trees decorated with thousands of white lights on their branches and festive red lights around their trunks will add a holiday glow and sparkle, while musical groups, including the Lakeland High School choir, will provide holiday entertainment.
As in years past, the celebration will end with a lighting ceremony and the Lighted Rig Parade. In keeping with the move to Main Street, the mayor will light up the huge wreath on the front of City Hall, signaling the beginning of the holiday season. The celebration will end with the parade, which will leave from the Parks and Recreation Building at the east end of Main Street for its winding tour through Rathdrum’s neighborhoods.
Main Street businesses offering a Christmas open house include the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce, The Rathdrum Star, Adept Business Services, the Rathdrum Thrift Store and Food Bank, Realteam Real Estate Center, The Salsa Factory and Rathdrum’s Parks and Recreation. For more information, call the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce 687-2866.