Anyone who has shopped local businesses recently has likely noticed that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! However, Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce President, Daniel Dahl announced on Friday, November 20 that Chinook's 35th Annual Parade of Lights, Festival of Trees, and Downtown Stroll will look different this year on November 27.

Because of the Governor's recent directives and the increase in the number of COVID cases, the Chamber had to forego the Festival of Trees and the Downtown Stroll. However, Chinook's main street will still feature the colors and sounds of the holidays with its Parade of Lights this Friday. The Parade will start at 6:00 p.m., with line-up beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Meadowlark Elementary School on New York Street.

"As we asked around to different churches and businesses about opening up more venues so that we could social distance with our vendors and shoppers for the holiday stroll, we just had a lot of people decline because of potential liability issues," Dahl reported. "And we didn't want everyone congregating in the lobby of First Bank of Montana for the Festival of Trees, so we decided to simplify the event and just go with the Parade since people have come to expect that. Besides, it's easier to keep everyone safe when spectators can just stay in their cars."

According to Dahl, there will be no entry fee to participate in the parade, and prizes will be awarded to the top three entries. He hopes those incentives will motivate people to create and enter floats. "In years past, the parade has featured horse-drawn carriages, which people really like, and I think it was last year that the FFA decorated a cattle trailer with lights that people commented on positively," Dahl said. "There's something different every year!"

First prize will be $25.00 in Chamber Bucks, 2nd prize is $15.00, and 3rd place will win $10.00 in community cash that can be spent at businesses that belong to the Chinook Area Chamber of Commerce.

"We invite everyone to come and watch the parade, but to please use the guidelines the governor has asked us to follow. We also invite everyone to Shop Local! There aren't any Black Friday sales going on with bigger box stores, so we encourage you to shop at all our stores in downtown Chinook or support local vendors," Dahl said.