Spend The Holiday Season In Stanley
The Stanley merchants and Stanley Commercial Club are getting ready for the holiday season and getting ready to offer you everything you need to have a wonderful holiday.
The Christmas activities will kick off on Saturday, Nov. 30 with the return of the Small Business Saturday Vendor and Craft Show from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This year, they will be using the former Ace Hardware Building on Main Street. Vendors will be offering a wide variety of unique handmade crafts, and treats as you search for those special items for decorating or gift giving this holiday season. Many Stanley businesses will also be offering special sales throughout the day.
The annual Parade of Lights which will kick off on Main Street at 6:00 p.m. with businesses open to give you a chance to get another head start on your Christmas shopping while enjoying this annual event. Entries for the parade are still welcome. Entrants should be at the depot no later than 5:00 p.m. Any entries are welcome to join in the parade at this time as well. You can call Matt Evans at 629-0373 to enter your float as well. Organizers continue to ask participants to keep in mind how dark it is on Main Street during the parade. As a result, they request that you not throw candy or items from the floats, but rather have someone walking alongside to hand out treats if you wish. Entries will be judged with a prize given to the winner. The Commercial Club is also encouraging local businesses to stay open later that evening for shoppers.
This year, the Commercial Club is sponsoring Stanley Bucks giveaways each week during the holiday shopping season. You can register at participating businesses starting on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Santa Day is set for Saturday, Dec. 14. Free pictures with Santa will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Twin Lilies. The free movie for kids will be at Regis Theater with “The Star” showing starting at 1:00 p.m. There will be free popcorn for the kids and Santa will be there after the movie to hand out treats to the kids.
The Commercial Club and several local businesses are also working on other ideas for the Christmas season, including a Ladies Night on December 5 and a Men’s Night on December 9.
In the spirit of giving, the Women of Today will be sponsoring their annual Giving Tree. This year, trees will be set up in three locations: Cashwise Foods, Thoughtful Memories and Mountrail-Williams Electric. The plan is to have the first tags on the trees right after Christmas. To include a child on the tree, application forms are available at Cashwise, Mountrail County Social Services, Mountrail Community Food Pantry, Mountrail County Promoter or Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative. Applications can also be received by texting or calling Pat Fern at 629-9007.
As a reminder, family names remain confidential. Those who want to help with the Giving Tree but do not want to take a tag can make donations at the same locations. The Women of Today guarantee that every tag will be filled so donations help if all the tags are not taken or gifts not returned to the tree.