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I hope you had a chance to come out to one of the many tree lighting festivals that took place over the weekend.  I made it to two of them with my family.  What an awesome small town feel these festivals had.  Kids everywhere,  anticipating Santa and when they came they did not disappoint.  In Lindstrom, Santa arrived on the back of the Lindstrom Fire Department’s air boat.  It was quite an entrance.  In Chisago City, Santa arrived on a sleigh that was pulled by a pickup truck that was decked out to look like Rudolph. Bill Mack of Mack Landscaping was kind enough to decorate his truck for the event.
 
Both events were terrific and very well attended.  These events that our towns and cities put together are so special.  So comfortable, so friendly, so warming, that is what I feel when I attend these festivals.  Thanks so much to all the people who helped organize the events, we had a blast.

With Christmas just around the corner, there are a few events to discuss.  Unexpected Company will be performing their wonderful Christmas concert. If you are looking for some great Christmas music, Unexpected Company is one of the best.  They will be playing this Friday at Forest Hills Church in Forest Lake on Highway 97, and Sunday at the Chisago Lakes Highschool Performing Arts Center.  The concert in Forest Lake begins at 7:30 p.m. and the Chisago Lakes concert begins at 3 p.m.  

If you are planning on donating a gift for Anonymous Santa, there is still time.  You can donate all the way until Friday, December 9.  You can bring your donation to the Chisago Lakes Chamber office until Friday evening. If you know you will be buying gifts for the program, you can call them and let them know you will be dropping off Monday morning.  Thank you very much for helping out this Christmas.  

Friday, Security State Bank invites the public to their Annual Holiday Open House.  They will be serving cookies, and cider.  You will receive a calendar and a gift at the bank.  They ask that you please bring a food donation or a Anonymous Santa gift please.

If you missed Santa at the lighting festivals, don’t fret.  The man in the red suit will make an appearance at Brink’s Market. Bring your camera, Santa and Mrs Claus will be there from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Chisago Lake Lutheran Church invites you to their Sankta Lucia Program.  Beginning at 10 a.m., you will be treated to coffee, cider, pepparkakor cookies, Christmas bread and cheeses while Lucia and her court sing some wonderful Swedish traditional songs.

If you live north of town, and can’t make it so see Santa, I would urge you to come to Amador Township Hall at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Santa will be there along with an old fashioned Santa Claus day.  Please bring your cameras and of course your child’s wish list.

I am sure I am forgetting an event and I apologize. One last item to put on your calendars. The great folks at First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom are putting on their annual Living Nativity Saturday December 17.  If you have never been, please make an effort, even if it is cold out it is absolutely wonderful. 

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