No Stettler neighbourhood has had greater festive resonance than Main Street each year during Moonlight Madness, and this year was no different as the Town of Stettler, Stettler Regional Board of Trade and Community Development (BOT), Shop Stettler participants and ATCO Electric partnered together to bring Stettler and area residents an evening of festive fun and shopping.
With the Citizens of the Year – Bonnie and Donnie Lynn – lighting up the Christmas tree at 6 p.m., it was the start of a street party with local businesses staying open until late.
"This is an ongoing tradition that brings so much cheer and pride to the community as it marks the beginning of the holiday season," said Stacey Benjamin, BOT executive director. "We thoroughly enjoy the reactions of the children as they share their wish list with Santa. Moonlight Madness is a great time to meet up with friends, shop and share in the holiday season."
ATCO Electric set up shop across from Santa, selling cookies, hot chocolate and smokies for one dollar each to raise money for Stettler Food Bank.
According to ATCO, they raised $625, all of which went to the food bank.
The serpentine queue to meet Santa moved over from the street location to Wells Furniture at 7 p.m. as adults patiently waited with their kids so that they could greet Santa and get a picture with him, sharing their Christmas wish list of course.
Roads were blocked off to accommodate a street hockey area where kids played and took a shot to net the ball.
This was, after all, Moonlight Madness, when Shop Stettler participants and local businesses indulged their customers, playing a huge role in turning the town into a thriving shopping paradise.