Santa's workshop, parade of lights to usher in holidays

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
Team Properties is decked out and ready to celebrate Christmas with Santa’s Workshop and the Parade of Lights. Sponsored by the Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce and coordinated by Team Properties’ owner Sandy Martin, the two events promise to bring fun, surprises and lots of holiday sights and sounds to Newcastle.
Santa’s Workshop will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 640 S. Summit Ave. in Newcastle.
“We have a 22-foot-high inflatable balloon that will be outside Team Properties,” Martin said “So you can’t miss it. A candy cane lane will also lead up to the office.”  
A joyful grin spread across Martin’s face.
“Inside are lots of inflatables as well,” she said. “I just love Christmas. Kids can have their pictures taken with Santa, and there will be lots of crafts, cookie decorating and refreshments.” 
Of the goodies to eat, Martin said, she has over 1,000 cookies and 200 treat bags to give out to the kids. Along with the cookies, she said, there will also be coffee and hot chocolate.
There will be a minimum donation of $5 for this event. Apart from kids having a great time, the goal of Santa’s Workshop is to collect gifts for the elderly. These will be distributed a couple of weeks later at the Manor, at Mondell Heights Retirement Home and at the hospital.
“We will be taking these items to give out on Dec. 12, starting at 6:30. We will also be singing Christmas carols in the common areas,” Martin said. “Any gifts will be greatly appreciated.” 
Martin said that is important to her that those who are not able to get out and celebrate Christmas as easily as the rest of us will have some Christmas brought to them. Our elderly neighbors appreciate items such as warm socks, slippers and anything that helps make them comfortable is important, she said. “I also want to thank Andy and Hope McKay for all the hard work they did,” she said. “They put in a lot of work helping me set this up.” 
The McKays put up many of the inflatables, as well as table cloths, lights and other decorations in her office, she said.
After the Santa’s Workshop celebration, the annual Parade of Lights will take place at 6
p.m. It will follow the usual downtown course along Main street, which will be blocked off for the spectacle. 
“This year we have 30 people signed up to participate,” Martin said. “A big increase from previous years,” Martin chuckled.
“With the cold weather we are having, let’s hope they all show up for the event,” she said. 
The participants need to be at the high school parking lot no later than 5:30 p.m. to be in position for the judging, which will take place at that time, and then the floats will parade down Main Street. 
If anyone has questions about these events, Martin said she is more than willing to answer questions. Call her at (307) 321-8357.