GREAT FALLS — Today was a big day for Carol Moes - and a decades-old evergreen tree in her front yard in Great Falls.
“We have been thinking about it for a long time donating to the Christmas theme downtown. It just gets expensive to take care of a tree like that so just decided this was the year”.
Her parents Fern and Lawrence Erickson planted the tree almost 58 years ago.
But Carol wasn’t the only one giving their time and energy - the Good Wood Guys were tasked with taking down the tree and delivering it to its place of honor in front of the Civic Center.
And they have plans for the tree after Christmas. Chris Crocker, owner of the Good Wood Guys, said, “The coolest thing is we are going to build a Christmas table out of the wood for next year and we will be selling raffle tickets. Get them in many locations and raffle off this table we are going to build. So, the organization that sponsors this tree every year can have some funds for the future trees."
Here is the list of the others who helped volunteer to make it happen:
- NCSG Crane
- A.T. Klemens
- Johnson Madison Lumber
- Bench Industries
- Guy Tobacco Construction
- City of Great Falls Park & Recreation Department
- Downtown Great Falls Association
The annual Parade of Lights will be on Saturday, November 30, beginning at 6 p.m. The parade will start on Central Avenue at 6th Street and then head toward the Civic Center, where Santa Claus will light the official city Christmas tree.
November 30 also marks the annual observance of "Small Business Saturday," which began in 2010 to help bring more customers to local shops. Many Great Falls-owned shops will be offering specials.
The annual Christmas Stroll in downtown Great Falls will be on Friday, December 6th, from 5 pm to 9 pm. This year’s theme is “Holly Jolly Christmas." The event takes place along Central Avenue and features craft and music vendors and music, and many downtown shops stay open for the event.
The Downtown Great Falls Association still needs volunteers to help with the stroll - click here if you would like to help .
People can buy Christmas Stroll buttons for $5 each and be entered into a drawing for a chance to win prizes.
A press release from the DGFA says that Stroll buttons can be found at the following locations: Belle's & Lace Bridal, Candy Masterpiece, Blue Rose, City Bar, Dragonfly Dry Goods, Feather Your Nest, First Interstate Bank - Downtown location only, Downtown Association, Kaufman's, Mighty Mo Brew Pub., Motifs, MT Mosaics, My Viola, Pizazz, 5th & Wine, Gallery 16.
Prizes donated from: Belles & Lace Bridal, Blue Rose, Brush Crazy, Candy Masterpiece, City Bar, Downtown Great Falls Association, Dragonfly Dry Goods, Easter Seals-Goodwill, Ferrin’s Furniture, First Interstate Bank, In Cahoot's for Tea, Kaufman’s Menswear, Klover, Mighty Mo Brewing Co., Mind Body Yoga, Great Falls Voyagers, Pizazz, Sora & Co., State Farm (Pam Alfred), US Bank.
This year's grand prize will be a Downtown Staycation package which includes: 1 night stay at The Hotel Arvon, Gift Certificate to 5th & Wine, Lunch for 2 at the Block, a Gift Card to Elevation 3330, Truffles from Candy Masterpiece, an arrangement from Feather Your Nest.
Prize winners will be drawn on December 10th and notified that week.
