Chamber making plans for scaled down Candlelight Christmas

HARTINGTON — This year’s Hartington Candlelight Christmas celebration has a fitting theme — The Grinch that Stole Christmas.

That’s because the event has been significantly altered by the Grinch of 2020 - Covid-19.

Hartington Chamber of Commerce officer Lee Carl told City Council members Monday night that the Nov. 20 event will again feature a lighted vehicle parade, but the parade route is being altered in an attempt to encourage social distancing.

The Council had to give its approval to the parade in order to submit the proper paper work to the State allowing the route to cross the Highway 84 through Hartington.

“We are trying to discourage people from congregating downtown,” he said. “We aren’t encouraging businesses to be open, either.”

Carl said Santa Claus is still slated to come to town to lead the parade, but he won’t be able to visit with children.

He expects the Jolly Old Elf to come back to Hartington Dec. 12. Chamber members are planning to have Santa hand out candy at a Felber Park drive-by on that day. The Chamber Easter Egg Hunt was also conducted as a drive-through event this year.

Chamber President Karma Schulte told members this week her group still wants some kind of celebration this year.

“Obviously, things will be different this year due to social distancing but we still want to offer what we can to promote our businesses,” she said.

Schulte is encouraging all of the businesses to decorate their windows and store fronts as usual.

Spectators will be allowed to back their vehicles in along the parade route so they can remain in the vehicle and watch. The new, expanded parade route will be announced and maps made available some time closer to the event, she said.

Schulte said there is no registration required to take part in the parade this year.

“We will be limited to floats/vehicles that will be able to go down the street between cars on each side and no candy will be thrown,” she said.

She said a “Where is the Grinch” contest will be held like the Elf on the Shelf last year.

Other promotions, including a Silent Auction, are also being discussed by the Chamber Board of Directors, she said.

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