Photo by Amy Cherry Dave Hallinen is shown hanging Christmas lights in the Brusselles St. parking lot. Each year Hallinen and Bob Frey are joined by a 4-5 person crew in preparing downtown St. Marys for its annual Light Up Night sponsored by the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Downtown St. Marys will come to life on Friday evening as part of the annual Light Up Night sponsored by the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce. 

The annual event kicks off the beginning of the holiday season with festivities scheduled throughout the downtown area.

Light Up Night begins at 6:30 p.m. with the St. Marys Middle School Band providing musical accompaniment on the Diamond prior to Santa’s arrival scheduled at 7 p.m.

Santa will then travel to Northwest Savings Bank where he will hand out treats to youngsters.

“We had the largest turnout of business participants last year and are hoping to continue the tradition this year. It was wonderful as all the stores were lit up and the snow really helped to set the scene,” said Sally Wilson, executive director of the Chamber. “There will be things happening all over St. Marys this year. We have had a great response.”

The theme of the 2009 Light Up Night is “Light Up A Family’s Life”. Proceeds from the Chamber’s sale of holiday trinkets such as light up necklaces will benefit the Christian Food Bank of St. Marys.

Residents are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item by dropping it off at Northwest.

Last year’s proceeds benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Once again this year various stores are featuring live mannequins as part of their window displays which can be seen at Allstate Beimel and Gerg, Murone’s, St. Marys Pharmacy, Lesser and Lesser Jewelers, Northwest Savings Bank, Village Peddler and at April’s School of Dance.

The holiday mood will be enhanced with performances from choral groups including Girl Scout Christmas carolers. Christmas music playing throughout the downtown  

Horse drawn hay rides, courtesy of Tall Pines Belgium Adventures, are also taking place this year along Depot St.

As part of the “Light Up A Family’s Life” promotion the Chamber is and participating businesses are teaming up in promoting a game card. To play, patrons visit participating Light Up Night business where they must locate a picture of a family and will receive a stamp upon completion of the task. Completed game cards should be returned to the Chamber office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4 in order to be eligible to win a grand prize package.

“We expanded the game card promotion to all St. Marys businesses, not just those downtown,” Wilson explained. “We are also allowing people two weeks to complete the game card rather than in previous years when they had just two days to complete it.”

In addition chances are being sold for an opportunity to win an RCA 46” flat screen television. The TV was donated by Aaron’s and is valued at $1,080. The drawing is scheduled for December 22. Proceeds from the drawing will be shared between the food bank and next year’s Christmas lighting program.

Also lottery calendars are available for purchase at the Chamber or by Chamber board members. The calendars, priced at $15, are valid from January to March and are based on the Pennsylvania Lottery’s evening drawing. Prizes range from $20 during the week, $50 on weekends and larger amounts on holidays including New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day.

Allstate Beimel and Gerg, C/G Electrodes and St. Marys Pharmacy are this year’s event sponsors.

The 2009 Light Up Night participating businesses include Aaron’s, Accentz Salon, Allstate Beimel and Gerg, Ammo and Arms, Curves, Dave’s Pro Shop, Express Lube, Goodwill Industries, Gunners, Ivan’s Wear and Women’s Apparel, Johnson’s Grocery, Radio Shack, Lesser and Lesser Jewelers, Lisa Lyons Styling Salon, Murone’s TV & Appliance, Northwest Savings Bank, Old Charm Bed & Breakfast, Rick’s Dough Boys, Sears, Second Chance Resale Shop, Sheetz, Smith’s Sport Store, St. Marys Home & Hardware, St. Marys Pharmacy, Suzy’s and Village Peddler.