JG-TC.com > News > Downtown merchants plan for Christmas celebration

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SPECIAL SECTION

ONLINE POLL

ONLINE EXTRAS

Shop Smart, Shop Local

SITE TOOLS

OTHER LINKS

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 9:57 PM CDT
Downtown merchants plan for Christmas celebration

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

MATTOON — From getting the right chair for Santa to mapping a bump-free mini-train ride, the organizers of the Dec. 4 Downtown Celebration are making a list of tasks and checking it twice.

Meeting Monday morning at Warner’s Office Equipment, the group of about 15 business owners and community supporters announced that 5-7 p.m. Dec. 4 is this year’s second Christmas celebration for the town’s oldest business district. The effort is designed to spark a new Christmas tradition similar to the times when the downtown twinkled and made precious memories for families.

“A lot of people remember how it was in the downtown when they were younger, years ago. The town has changed but Christmas is still special for the downtown,” said Barb McKenzie, who led the discussion on the preparations.

The second edition of the celebration will include decorations in participating businesses, drawings for a basket of prizes, rides in the Camp New Hope mini-train, some refreshments and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus. The train route will remain in the downtown area.

Some changes this year might include having Santa visit with children in the Mattoon Public Library. Last year, the jolly elf was hoofing it between some stores, but some organizers said a central location might be easier on him and his audience.

One proposal would have some donated prizes from businesses pooled together for a large drawing. Visitors will be encouraged via the drawing to enter a number of stores during the celebration.

Another goal is to get a taste of Christmas going with the fest.

Volunteers are encouraged to come forward to help out with arrangements. The next meeting of the Downtown Celebration committee is 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at Warner’s.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

Add your comments

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login? (requires cookies)
	Forgot Your Password?

Not already registered?
Then click Here.

Comment policy:

JG-TC.com encourages readers to engage in civil conversation with their neighbors. Comments that are submitted are not posted to the site immediately. They go into a queue to be moderated and may take several hours to be reviewed. Comments posted on Saturday may not be reviewed until Sunday afternoon.

In order to keep the page a set width, long lines (mostly long links) will be chopped. Try putting spaces in your links or consider using tinyurl.com to make a smaller link that you can include.

We will never edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to remove comments that violate our code of conduct.

No comment may contain:

* Potentially libelous statements; such as accusing somebody of a crime, defamation of character, or statements that can harm somebody's reputation.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults, threats, harassment or inciting violence.
* Commercial product promotions.

If you have any questions, please contact our moderator.

city girl wrote on Oct 21, 2009 1:43 AM:

" Isn't that the same weekend Charleston has their Christmas on the square? To me I would think Mattoon would do it maybe the next weekend. Maybe more people would come. Makes sence to me! "

Mama says wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:44 AM:

" Between 1948 and 1968, I remember how the old JC Penneys windows were decorated so beautiful and I looked in wonder at it all, and the other stores with windows all lit up for Christmas.
I always felt so happy, and we heard the Christmas songs over the PA systems outside. Santa in Penneys I remember.
I liked it when had the Easter bunny but he was six foot tall and scared me to death. I thought he might think was a carrot. hehe. Warners, Lords, old woolworths, clothing stores, shoestores, all in the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, and the decorations outside on the lamp posts. We would sit in the car and watch people on one side, then move car and see other side of street, and if cold just started the car up.
Ideas for gifts in windows, and we could sit and wish. Back then parents would leave us kids in the car if one of the kids old enough to babysit. We were treated by parents to the not so often hot dog, chips, fountain soda.
We never went out to eat much. I liked made-rites,,,,,can't find them now.
So special during Christmas Holiday to go to downtown Mattoon. I can remember when we had the busses also. MAN I AM OLD, hehe. But kids can find some of the aparkle with the train ride, seeing Santa, and decorations downtown. Make it more special with a snack somewhere.
I remember BURGER KING and when little thought I WAS IN THE BIG TIME. haha.
Hot chocolate was and is good when so cold. "

mickeygarlock wrote on Oct 23, 2009 10:08 AM:

" city girl

Apparently Mattoon learned from Arthur. "

city girl wrote on Oct 23, 2009 6:54 PM:

" To mama says...there's a maid rite in Springfeild Il "