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Duncan lights up for the season Friday

The Duncan Business Improvement Area Society is serious about beautifying downtown Duncan this Christmas.
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A couple of kids search downtown Duncan’s windows in hopes of winning a prize during last year’s Christmas Kick-off.

The Duncan Business Improvement Area Society is serious about beautifying downtown Duncan this Christmas.

The group has invested in outdoor warm white C7 lights and are giving them to landlords and businesses to install on the rooflines and upper storeys of their buildings.

There are, of course, a few regulations about these lights and they are only available on a first come, first served basis. So, contact the DBIA if you are interested.

It will all be worth it, though, adding to the excitement of the annual Duncan Christmas Kick Off Friday, Nov. 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This traditional favourite aims to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and hopefully do some shopping downtown.

Only City Square will be closed; all other streets will be open. Santa Claus will be in his station by City Hall, carols will be playing and a gift wrapping station (by donation to a local non-profit group) will be set up in the Merchants Building.

Organizers are also working on one or two concessions in the Square, perhaps offering hot drinks and baking.

Of course, business owners really ramp up the sparkling streetscape with delightful and inventive window decorations.

Among the fun that organizers are looking at are: Santa’s arrival,  hay rides, roasted chestnuts, performances by community groups and fireworks. Stay tuned for more details.

Later, closer to Christmas, the DBIA is organizing a new event entitled Light Up the Night.

On Monday, Dec. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m., the group wants to celebrate the winter solstice and the return of longer days by lighting up the night in City Square.

Treats on offer include free glowsticks and the Vesta Entertainment Fireshow that had been scheduled for the summer celebration but was sidetracked by the fire hazard.

The the kids are off school and most stores are open late that week with pre-Christmas excitement reaching its zenith, so the DBIA is hoping to crown the season with a special event.