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Show B1 Life Is The Emery County Review, Tuesday, December 2, 2008 Swell Emery and Carbon Counties, Utah u Living in the San Rafael Swell Area u Animal Life Skipping Generations Sometimes you have to search your ancestry to discover where your love for animals comes from B5 Photos by C. Josie Luke Christmas Town Santa Claus arrives at Helper’s civic auditorium after the “lights on” ceremony. Helper kicks off the holiday season with its ‘Lights On’ ceremony building up to the Helper Light Parade A C. Josie Luke fter Helper Mayor Mike Dalpiaz read a proclamation from Governor Jon Huntsman declaring Helper Utah’s Christmas Town for the 19th straight year, Mark Montoya flipped the switch which turned on the lights in Helper’s City Park and officially began Helper’s annual Christmas Town Festival. The “Lights On” ceremony began at Helper’s Rio Theatre with a prayer, and then the Sally Mauro Singers led a procession of citizens to the city park where the lighting officially took place. After the ceremony, the students and other children were treated to a visit from Santa Claus at the Helper Civic Auditorium. The event marked the 19th year that Helper has celebrated the state title with activities building up to the Helper Electric Light Parade, which will be held Dec. 5-6. At the park, the Sally Mauro Singers then treated the gathered crowd to Christmas music, and though the celebration was subdued somewhat because Wayne Dimick, who had served as the city’s deputy recorder and had been the assistant fire chief, had died unexpectedly earlier in the day, the celebration was one full of holiday cheer. The Sally Mauro Singers entertain the crowd. In fact, Dimick’s family attended the event and encouraged people to celebrate the festival in honor of their lost loved one. For many locals the parade, and the fireworks which follow on Saturday night, is a yearly holiday tradition, not to be missed, and certainly to be enjoyed. “If you have never seen a light parade, it’s definitely something you want to start making a tradition,” said festival committee member Mark Montoya. “My absolute favorite part is the fireworks display. To me there’s nothing like seeing fireworks out in the cold.” Though the “Lights On” ceremony officially begins the celebration, this year’s events began with the Christmas Craft Fair held Nov 20-21 and continue through the Dec. 6 fireworks The fun begins each night of the parade with a chili dinner from 4 to 7 p.m., followed by the Helper Electric Light Parade which follows the city’s main street. This year, there will also be gallery strolls each day featuring Helper’s blossoming art establishment. On Saturday morning, the day begins with Breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m., and culminates with the fireworks display which begins after the light parade has concluded. |
