Multicoloured lights soared to the top of the tall pines and swagged on roof and fence at the Elk Point Visitor Information Eco Centre and icicle lights twinkled and reflected off the ice of a freshly-made, bale-encircled outdoor skating rink at the Iron Horse Trail staging area on Friday evening. Floats draped in lights and loaded with festive inflatables and rosy-cheeked riders in fur-trimmed hats led the way up Main Street past cheering crowds as Santa and Mrs. Santa waved from on an old-fashioned hay rack pulled by a big green tractor.
Christmas Extravaganza 2010 brought plenty of festive hustle and bustle to the downtown area at dusk, as preschoolers tried their skill at a series of games in Activity Lane and elementary-age youngsters toured the town in a search for Scavenger Hunt clues. Meanwhile, at the Seniors’ Recreation Centre, children decorated tree ornaments and coloured pictures as they waited their turn to perch on Santa’s knee and deliver their Christmas lists. Up on the hill, F. G. Miller High School was a hub of activity as Clifford the Big Red Dog welcomed everyone to the school’s annual book fair, and shoppers browsed for special gifts from more than 25 booths at the trade and craft fair.
A short but colourful Winter Wonderland Parade was filled with brightly-lit entries, with Elk Point 4-H Multi Club declared this year’s first prize winner, with Shamrock Valley Enterprises second and ATB Financial coming third.
Immediately after the parade, the lineups began at the Visitor Information Centre for tractor-drawn hayrides, while a good number of skaters of all ages tried out the new rink nearby. Elk Point and District Lions and Community Lions were kept busy adding names to their community Christmas card and collecting items for Santas Anonymous, the Servus Credit Union staff was busy dispensing complimentary hot chocolate and selling hot dogs, Ron Smith was hard at work selling tickets on the miniature Eco Centre playhouse that will now be drawn for on Canada Day 2011, and the Volunteer Firefighters kept a close eye on the pair of blazing bonfires. All that was missing was the entertainment, which was unfortunately cancelled at the last minute.
Shoppers trekked from store to store, filling Extravaganza passports with stickers and stuffing them into the bulging draw drum at Elk Point Co-op in preparation for the 9:30 p.m. draw. Chamber of Commerce president Sandy Smith and treasurer Geoff Hyslop did the honours, drawing the name of Brenda Mudryk for top prize of $2,000 Elk Point Bucks, Brenda Hayman’s passport for the $500 Bucks, Debra McQuinn for $200 Bucks, Marlene McCarthy winning the table of eight dinner theatre tickets, and Joanne Bespalko the $100 ARK Autowash gift card. F. G. Miller vice-principal Cheri Lindquist and student Brianna White drew the name of the 50/50 winner, Paula Wirsta.
The evening wound up with the traditional huge fireworks display.