Christmas lights will turn on for the first time and Santa will make his debut at the fifth annual Jingle Down Main event in Fruitvale on Saturday.
Festivities begin at 9 a.m. at the Memorial Hall with local firefighters flipping flapjacks and Beaver Valley Nitehawks serving up the plates, which include sausage and eggs.
“This year we are hoping to break the record and serve more than 450 people,” said Kelly Walker, from Beaver Valley Recreation.
“Last year, we raised $1,900 and this year, we are hoping for the same or better.”
All proceeds from the meal are donated to the Community Chest Christmas Hamper program.
The popular Santa’s train will board four times that day, leaving the pole yard in the centre of town and run to the falls on Beaver Creek and back.
The train leaves the station at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m.
There is limited seating of 40 persons each ride, so those wishing to enjoy the trip must first pick up tickets at the Fruitvale post office in exchange for a non-perishable food item or new toy.
No ticket is required for those under two, but an adult must accompany those under 12.
The rides, hosted by the Beaver Valley Rotary, are courtesy of Columbia Power Corporation and the Nelson & Fort Sheppard Railway Company.
“This is the only line owned by Burlington Northern that his type of community activity happens on,” said Lila Cresswell from the Village of Fruitvale.
The family movie “Arthur Christmas” will screen at 3 p.m. at the hall with a non-perishable food item or new toy as price of admission.
From 5-7:30 p.m., Main Street will be closed to traffic as the town hosts a fun-filled evening that includes Christmas music, stage entertainment, hot dogs and roasted chestnuts.
Street vendors will be selling their goodies, and merchants will be open with deals for the season.
Santa has promised to make his appearance to hand out treats to the kids, and the firefighters will warm the crowd with a bonfire.
“Last year, we had a great turn out, more than 800 people, hopefully this year will bring in even more,” said Patricia Cecchini, Mayor of Fruitvale.
All donations of food and toys will be put directly into the Community Chest Christmas hampers.
Over 160 hampers were assembled, last year; with 80 of them going to families said Dorothy Connelly, volunteer to the non-profit organization.
