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Silver City Nites light up downtown

Four Trail girls are as giddy as elves to slip into character for tonight’s third annual Silver City Nites.
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From the left; Kyla Mears (Hope Joy elf)

Four Trail girls are as giddy as elves to slip into character for tonight’s third annual Silver City Nites. Thirteen-year-olds Elena Enns, Kyla Mears and Gina and Kate Oostlander are playing the role of Santa’s helpers, collecting letters from Greater Trail children eager to send their wish list to the North Pole. Not only Christmas but winter spirit will come alive downtown tonight in the family-fun event that will bring people together to celebrate community. Old St. Nick will make an appearance during the 6 p.m. Candy Parade that will kick off the festivities mostly taking place at the 1300 block of Cedar Avenue, which will be closed to traffic after the last bus leaves downtown. Trail’s new council, ambassador candidates, the city’s roller derby team, along with other community members like Pacific Coastal and Trail RCMP will travel down Bay Avenue with Santa, head west on Farwell Street and then south on Cedar to stop at the main festival grounds. A tree lighting, free hot dogs and hot chocolate from United Steelworkers Local 480, entertainment from St. Michael’s School Christmas choir and letters to Santa collected by Canada Post will all add a touch of spirit to the night. “Come out, come out and enjoy,” said Maggie Stayanovich, executive director of the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce. For the first time, Trail Community in Bloom is organizing the event in conjunction with the Downtown Opportunities and Action Committee. “Being a part of the Downtown Opportunities and Action Committee, we want to showcase our businesses downtown,” said Stayanovich. Residents are encouraged to explore downtown stores that are participating in the fun with late-night shopping, as well as check out some of the show-stopping Christmas window displays, which are competing for recognition. The Doorway owner Barb Billingsley has organized Silver City Passport, where shoppers are encouraged to visit all of the 20 participating merchants to receive stamps. A full passport will gain entry into a draw for a $2,000 prize that will be awarded on site. “It’s just to encourage people to come downtown and check out all the different local businesses and shop local,” said Billingsley, who has organized similar events of this kind for seven years. The Doorway will have live music to entertain its shoppers while downstairs in the new Trail Medical Aesthetics and Day Spa, customers will receive tours of the new facility and information on its services. Other participating business will add their own spin on the event with in-store draws or specials. The festivities started late last month with crafters assembling 54 hanging baskets and hanging thousands of Christmas lights in preparation for tonight’s fun.