By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
Plans for decoration contests, prizes and family fun, including the 21st Annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights and Snow Festival on Dec. 2, are under way in Alpine!
This year the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will present a range of holiday opportunities for residents, businesses, organizations and vendors.
By Jo Moreland
Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce
For The Alpine Sun
Plans for decoration contests, prizes and family fun, including the 21st Annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights and Snow Festival on Dec. 2, are under way in Alpine!
This year the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will present a range of holiday opportunities for residents, businesses, organizations and vendors.
There will be prizes for the best decorated business building in the village and the best decorated vendor’s booth at the free Snow Festival at the Alpine Creek Town Center, 1347 Tavern Road.
“The parade and snow festival is the biggest and best event ever to promote the community to those who may not be familiar with Alpine,” said Mary Rynearson, the Chamber’s new president and CEO. “It also helps develop our local spirit of camaraderie.”
Following tradition, any entry with holiday lighting — pets, vehicles, adult and youth organizations, bands, floats, marching units— is welcome in the parade. Registration is free.
The parade draws more people every year, which has led to a bigger and better Snow Festival. There’s free sledding on real snow, the lighting of the Alpine Christmas tree, specialty booths, food, photos with Santa, children’s activities, a DJ and entertainment.
There is no duplication of services or foods at the festival. Booth prices are $15 for nonprofit organizations and $40 for businesses. Vendors need to apply now.
Alpine businesses that can’t make it to the Snow Festival are being encouraged by the Chamber to have a sidewalk sale that evening.
Event sponsorships starting at $500 are available. There are also advertising opportunities in the parade and snow festival newspaper pullout and the parade booklet.
This is the second year of the Chamber’s five-year plan to bring rural Alpine alive with cheerful holiday lighting. Chamber members Chris Wiley of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., and Darryl Bush of Keller Williams Realty sparked the program.
Wiley said he saw the effect of major community lighting during 2014 holiday trips to Puebla, Mexico, and Big Bear.
“The places were crowded with people,” he said. “People were out of their cars. Shops were open. The restaurants were open. . . . People were walking around.”
Wiley said that after talking with Bush, who was heavily involved, the Chamber’s first village lighting was in 2015. It drew about 30 percent participation and more is expected this year, he said.
Last year, Wiley said, he talked with business owners to let them know that even though Primary Mortgage isn’t open in the evening their lights would be on to benefit others commercially.
The village holiday lighting season will be Nov. 1 through Jan. 13.
Judging for the community lighting starts at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Anyone who needs lights can visit Ace Hardware at in the Alpine Creek Town Center.
In addition to winning a prize, the lighting winner’s name will be placed on the Chamber’s perpetual plaque.
“The goal is year-round lighting,” especially if fire-safe approved white lights are used, Wiley said. “People need to know that Alpine’s here. (Decorating) lights up the town.”
Call the Chamber at (619) 445-2722 for more information.
