This Friday will mark the first Friday of December, which in Crookston can only mean one thing: It’s Winter Wonderland time again.
This year’s celebration will begin at 5 p.m. throughout town. More than 1,500 luminaries will line the downtown streets and light the way to Central Park.
All over town, Crookston retail stores will be open until 8:30 p.m. and will offer Christmas treats and special sales for holiday shoppers. Some stores will feature special music or live models in their windows. Carolers will pop in and out of stores and stroll the streets, singing holiday tunes.
Santa Land is back, too. Hosted by the University of Minnesota Crookston Student Association and other campus organizations, this year’s location is the former Curves space at 206 North Main, next to Bremer and Thrifty White Drug. Children will have a chance to get their picture taken with Santa and visit with the elves and Mrs. Claus. Santa Land will also feature treats, crafts and other surprises.
If there is enough snow on the ground, and that’s far from a guarantee, although Crookston could get a little white stuff on Tuesday, there will be sleigh rides in Central Park. Ted Curfman of Curfman’s Critters in Thief River Falls, will provide the rides from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., snow permitting.
Snow or no snow, it’s bound to be chilly on Friday evening, so the City of Crookston will once again light a large bonfire in the park.
Many volunteers are helping to make the event happen, including the CHS Leo Club, UMC Clubs and Organizations, Crookston businesses, and the Golden Link Senior Center, which, year after year, folds thousands of luminaries.
