By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
The lights and decorations are up and Saturday the Frost Fest parade is set to bring Christmas cheer and more to area residents during the annual tradition in downtown Hays.
This year's parade theme is Starry Christmas Night.
"So it should be very, very lit up this year," said Allie Glidewell, Downtown Hays Development Corp. director of events and operations. "Very beautiful, very fun."
And while the lights from the parade will create a bright holiday scene, the downtown itself features its own illumination, adding to the festive display.
"Last year, our organization tripled the amount of lights on that tree in Union Pacific park next to the pavilion," Glidewell said. "So it's going to be huge and beautiful."
And after a year without the beloved celebration, this year will be an exciting event said DHDC executive director Sara Bloom.
"We're very excited to be back in person and to bring the Frost Fest parade back," she said.
Along with the parade, events are planned throughout the day, including programming offered by the Hays Public Library.
"We're very excited," said Hays Public Library communications coordinator Callie Kolacny. "We always enjoy Frost Fest. It's a great time for downtown Hays. It's a lot of fun but lots of activities at the library that basically go from when we open at 9 a.m. until after the parade is over. We will be open. We will have activities."
From 9 to 11 a.m. the library will offer a come-and-go breakfast with Santa to start off the day's festivities.
"This year, we're doing the come-and-go," Kolacny said. "With your food items, you can sit there and have your breakfast, but there's no tickets necessary. You don't have to do any pre-registration or anything, just come in anytime between nine and 11. And get your breakfast and enjoy your time there."
At 10 a.m. Santa will also read a story with the children.
"And of course, you can get pictures with Santa, and it'll be a lot of fun. So that'll be our, our opening for Saturday for the Frost Fest," Callie said.
From 1 to 4 p.m. the library will offer crafts and pictures with Chilly the Penguin.
At the same time Frost Fest Flicks on the Bricks will have a showing of "The Grinch" at the Fox Theatre.
After the showing, participants will have the chance to take pictures with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who.
At 5 p.m., also at the Fox Theatre, the Downtown Dollar Giveaway is planned, where shoppers that have collected tickets from downtown businesses up to the event can be entered to win.
"Depending on the store, you get a ticket," Glidewell said. "This ticket enters you to win in the downtown dollar giveaway, which is taking place on Dec. 18, where you could win $1,000 or $2,000 in downtown dollars."
"And other great prizes at participating businesses," Bloom said.
"That started that first weekend in November (and goes) all the way through Dec. 18. So you have so much time to gather bunches of chances to win," Glidewell said.
After closing at 5 p.m., the library is set to reopen at 5:30 p.m.
"(We will) have hot cocoa in the lobby area so that people can come in, get your hot cocoa and get ready for the parade, which will be at six o'clock," Kolacny said.
"This year, we are staying open for the parade," she said. "We've got all those beautiful windows now. And so especially if you want to go up to the second floor and watch from above, then you can go up and watch the parade from inside, especially if it's really chilly."
Following the parade, another movie showing is planned at The Fox.
At 7:30 p.m., "The Polar Express" will be screened, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available.
For more information, visit the DHDC or library websites.