The first bright lights of the holiday season will be on display tomorrow night outside Canadian Tire at the Junction Shopping Mall during the second annual Moonlight Madness community celebration and Mission Community Services’ Christmas Bureau opening.
Mayor Ted Adlem will light the 20-foot Christmas tree at 7 p.m. to kick things off, and there will be sales and events throughout the night until 11 p.m.
Mr. Mikes is hosting a toy drive and the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce is also launching the shop local campaign, Pay It Forward — both programs support the Christmas Bureau.
When you shop local, you are supporting your community. According to the Chamber, 73 per cent of every dollar you spend at a locally owned store stays in the community, and 47 per cent remains here even if you shop at a large chain.
“Those dollars then circulate in the community 75 times.”
To support the Pay It Forward program, submit every receipt you get from a Mission store between Nov. 16 to Dec. 15 to the Chamber and 10 cents will be donated to the Christmas Bureau. You can scan or send a copy of the receipt to the chamber’s website (missionchamber.bc.ca) or Facebook page, or drop it off at specially marked boxes around town. Submit as many receipts as you can, starting at the Junction where there will be great deals at participating stores to help you get your shopping started.
That night only, if you hand in a receipt from a local business or make a donation to the Christmas Bureau, you will get a chance to win a prize — donated by Junction businesses — by spinning the roulette wheel.
More than 25 businesses are taking part in this event. All the night’s events and store specials will be listed at the event tent near the Christmas tree.
Visit each participating store to play the “What’s in the Jar” contest. Find the jars and write down what’s in each one on a game card, given out at the event tent. Completed entries can be submitted to the same table and random winners will be drawn starting at 10 p.m. The winner will receive the jar and a prize from a local business.
Other activities happening include an ugly Christmas sweater or tie contest, Junction Idol singing contests, a kids’ zone with Santa, and the Library Live and On Tour Car (Lili) will also be on site.
The Mission Elks will be serving hot dogs, burgers and fries with proceeds gong to the Christmas Bureau, and Mr. Mikes (under new ownership) will be serving up Mini Mike burgers for a $2 donation.
Schedule of events
6-8:30 p.m.
Library Live and On Tour Car (Lili) with music, microphone
7 p.m.
Tree lighting ceremony
7 to 11 p.m.
Spin the roulette wheel, support Mission Community Services Christmas Bureau
7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
Kids zone and Santa
8:30 to 11 p.m.
Classy Karaoke
8:30 to 9 p.m.
Ugly Christmas sweater or tie contest. Contestants will be paraded across the stage and the audience will select the winner. Winner receives a trophy.
9 to 10:30 p.m.
Junction Idol singing contest. There will be three judges and the winner earn a trophy.
10 p.m.
Winners from What’s in the Jar contest will be drawn.
