Santa Claus is comin' to Ronan
RONNA WALCHUK, left, and Ky Bartels stand with a pallet painted by a local artist. Pallets with holiday scenes are on display at businesses on Main Street in Ronan, ahead of the city’s Parade of Lights Friday. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)
For the last two years, the Ronan Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the Parade of Lights in December.
This year, organizers of the Parade of Lights in Ronan have talked with Santa Claus, who will serve as the Grand Marshal.
The jolly man in red will be right behind the Honor Guard, organizer Ronna Walchuk confirmed.
Walchuk is co-organizing the event with Ky Bartels and Gypsy Ray, carrying on a 40-year tradition.
The parade, which is open to anyone who wants to participate, will begin at 5:30 p.m., and will proceed down Main Street.
Line-up for the procession will be at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility prior to 5 p.m.
Keeping the event light and breezy, Walchuk explained that anyone who wants to participate in the parade just has to show up before the parade starts.
“We’re the surprise package; come one, come all,” she said, with a laugh.
Santa will lead the way to the Lights Under the Big Sky at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan.
Largely made possible by volunteers, Walchuk said that the Ronan Beautification Committee has worked to assemble flower baskets and candy canes, while Ronan High School students have volunteered their time to going through strings of lights, replacing bulbs that didn’t work.
Access Montana put up decorations, while art students painted winter wonderland scenes in business windows along Main Street.
Several local artists decorated wooden pallets, painting winter scenes. The pallets are displayed at various businesses, also along Main Street.
“They’re all snowman scenes,” Walchuk said, with Bartels adding with a laugh, “But we’re not asking for it to snow.”
For any last-minute information, contact Walchuk at 676-5323, Bartels at 253-8611 or Ray at 676-5901.