‘Lunch with Santa’ slated for Saturday

With another successful Christmas parade under its belt, the local Business Improvement Association is keeping the holiday spirit alive and well in downtown Fort Frances with the annual “Lunch with Santa.”
Slated for this Saturday (Dec. 2), the always-popular event is expected to draw hundreds of youngsters to Warp 9 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The cost is $2 per child.
Parents can take their own child’s photo with Santa, or buy a Polaroid taken by a photographer for a nominal fee.
BIA co-ordinator Patti Anderson said she’s looking forward to another successful “Lunch with Santa,” but added she still needs volunteers to help out.
Those interested can call her at 274-7502. If she’s not there, leave a message.
In related news, Anderson said many businesses in downtown Fort Frances will be staying open every day until Christmas, including Sundays.
“A lot of them will be open on Christmas Eve, as well, which is a Sunday,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Anderson said she was thrilled with how the 49th-annual “Parade of Lights” went this past Saturday, with more than 20 floats participating.
“I thought it was wonderful. There was such a good turnout,” she remarked. “The floats were just fabulous. I thought they were so well done, and almost every group that pre-registered participated.
“We had lots and lots of good feedback,” she added.
The parade started at the Shevlin wood yard and proceeded down Scott Street to Central Avenue.
While all of the floats feature a multitude of lights, a trio of judges had to pick their top three and ended up giving the first-place prize of $150 in “BIA Bucks” to Doug Kitowski Trucking.
The second- and third-place prizes of $100 and $50 in “BIA Bucks” went to Tim Hortons and Gayle Arpin and her nativity scene on horseback, respectively.
Walking with the floats were volunteers collecting “Mitts for Kids” while B93•FM staff once again gathered unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items for the local Salvation Army.
Canada Post employees also collected children’s letters to Santa.
After the parade, people were invited to drop by the New Beginnings Fellowship for free Christmas refreshments and carolling.