WELLS — It’s beginning to look a little like Christmas in Wells, as the community gears up for its annual Wells Does it Bright celebration starting at 4 p.m. Friday.

Preparations for some of this year’s festivities have already begun and include traditional and new events. The Wells Area Chamber of Commerce will host the business window decorating contest, which is a staple event for Wells Does it Bright. A tree decorating contest — which is open to individuals, groups or businesses — is new this year.

Once registered at Jenny’s Pink Petals, participants will be able to bring a tree to Bidne’s Lawn, next to Schroeder Accounting, and decorate it as they choose. Winners will be determined by visitors during the Wells Does it Bright celebration. The winner will receive chamber bucks.

“We wanted to spread the activity throughout Main Street,” chamber board member Crystal Dulas said. “The empty Bidne lot was an ideal space for the Christmas trees to be displayed.”

The placement of the lot brings visitors around the corner to other downtown businesses and the ambulance garage, where the Wells Ambulance crew hosts an annual soup supper.

Another new event this year is the lighted parade.

“We’ve talked about it for a number of years and finally made it come to fruition,” Dulas said of the parade.

Lineup for the parade will be at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home at 7 p.m., and there is no registration required to participate in the parade. The parade will begin at 7:15 p.m., and the route will go down two blocks of Broadway from State Farm Insurance to the new location of Assembly of God Church.

Dulas said children always look forward to seeing Santa, so they will be happy to know Santa will make an appearance from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lions Plaza. He will also lead the lighted parade with his elf, Buddy, and four children will be chosen from a drawing to ride with him.

There will be a variety of family friendly activities, including horse and buggy rides, sugar cookie decorating and a make-and-take reindeer food station. There will also be a free showing of the 2018 version of “The Grinch,” sponsored by People’s State Bank.

“A number of businesses in the area, chamber and non-chamber members, have specials and events going on,” Dulas said. “Folks just need to stop downtown and find the fun.”

 

Schedule of events

Friday

3-7 p.m.: Christmas photo booth, Lyssa Warmka Insurance

4 p.m. until gone: Wells Ambulance soup supper, Wells Ambulance Garage

4 p.m.: Free showing of “The Grinch,” Flame Theatre

4-6 p.m.: Sugar cookie decorating, Wells Area Chamber of Commerce office

4-7 p.m.: Horse and buggy rides, pickup by Jake’s Pizza

4:30-6:30 p.m.: Holiday tasting, Wells Liquor Store

5-7 p.m.: Santa and Buddy the Elf, Lions Plaza

5-7 p.m.: Hot chocolate by the bonfire, Lions Plaza

5-7 p.m.: Make-and-take reindeer food, Wells City Hall

5-7 p.m.: Voting for the tree decorating contest

7:15 p.m.: Lighted parade, downtown Wells