UPDATED WITH TONIGHT’S TIMES

The Community Church’s bell choir and SLCS’s jazz band and chorus will perform at the school at 7:00.The spirit of Christmas  -- including a week’s worth of celebrations  -- is alive in Schroon Lake

Under the guidance of the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Sue Palisano, her deputy Nicole Howe and the dedicated volunteers of Schroon’s Old Tyme Christmas Planning Committee, this year’s extravaganza is the best ever. (And we’ve seen a few of ‘em).

First off, a plug for tonight’s festivities: there’s the Community Church’s Bell Choir, and Schroon Lake Central School’s Jazz Concert and 6th Grade Concert at the Schroon Lake Central School.

This is the second year of the celebration under the direction of Sue.

“Last year gave me a good sense of what we needed to do this year. Nicole had conceived the Polar Plunge a few years ago. So we thought, you know, what else can we do continue to make this a celebration that wasn't even just one day, but, you know, but multiple days,” Sue told Schroon Laker today.

The committee started planning in earnest before Thanksgiving and started soliciting donations for baskets and looking for involvement from the greater community.

What’s new this year?

“Folks are going to do things that they did last year and we have a lot of, of new things this year. For example, the Friends of the Library, are doing a special holiday bookstore. We've added a holiday lights parade. We're starting really small on that to test the waters. But we've got our fire department and EMS and trucks from Pottersville and North Hudson. Some individuals are doing quads and trucks.

“The Holiday Light Parade starts at the School at 5.30 pm and runs down Main Street to Dock and up to The Strand Theatre, where Santa's being dropped off for his visit with the kids. Also new this year is an Ornament Hunt, which kicks off at 2pm. There’s 140 hidden around town. We still have all of our favorites, the horse and wagon ride and caroling and the tree lighting arts and crafts for kids at the library and at the town store and music all around town.

“We very much miss The Community Church not being here, but they are actually doing a bake sale at the Seagle Music Colony office”

And what gets Sue excited?

“The basket raffle and we're doing our festival of trees again this year. That was a big hit last year. Everybody's just totally outdone themselves this year. The trees are absolutely beautiful and we have over 50 baskets and gift certificates for the raffle, which has just been awesome.”

This year’s trees are sponsored by Glens Falls National Bank, Dollar General, The Upstate Insurance Agency, Peak Properties and the Seagle Music Colony.

So come on out. Go for a plunge. Listen to some good music and high five the fat guy in the red suit.

What’s your favorite part of the celebration? Tell us in comments.