Sunday, July 26, 2026
53.0°F

Ronan parade, holiday drawings attract crowd

KRISTI NIEMEYER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 7 months AGO
by KRISTI NIEMEYER
Kristi Niemeyer learned her newspaper licks at the Mission Valley News and honed them at the helm of the Ronan Pioneer and, eventually, as co-editor of the Leader until 1993. She later launched and published Lively Times, a statewide arts and entertainment monthly (she still publishes the digital version), and produced and edited State of the Arts for the Montana Arts Council and Heart to Heart for St. Luke Community Healthcare. Reach her at [email protected] or 406-883-4343. | December 13, 2023 11:00 PM

Main Street Ronan was crowded with parade watchers Friday as the annual Parade of Lights made its way through town. Festivities wrapped up at the Visitors’ Center with a giant bonfire, hot cocoa, and drawings for 15 themed gift packages, sponsored by the Ronan Chamber of Commerce.

Winners included: Backyard BBQ ($875), Victoria Whit; Lights, Camera, Action ($925), Faith and Sam Trotter; Hot Wheels ($1,070), Jared Hendrix; Home Improvement ($842), Charlie and Jane Hoffman; Chillin’ Out ($834), Nancy Vaughan; I Can See Clearly Now ($895), Willie and Lorraine Bourdon; Business Booster Bundle ($1,010), Grant Family; To Your Health Men's Package ($1,116), Brandon Drake; To Your Health Women's Package ($1,394), Millie Woodcock; Let's Go Cruisin' ($1,210), Brit Nordberg; Backyard Oasis ($817), Lindsey Sinclair; Game Night ($1,148), Dave Kudlock; Makin’ Waves ($830), Beth Rathbun; Grill Master ($1,075), Tricia Anderson; and Christmas Magic ($1,425), Brady and Jess Snyder.

Organizers say the Tool Time package, valued at $810, went to a good home too (they just forgot to write down the name).

    A pair of happy customers made off with one of 15 gift packages given away to ticket holders during the annual Holiday Treasures drawing, held last Friday night in Ronan and sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
 
 
    Jolly Old St. Nick made his way down Main Street last Friday during Ronan's Parade of Lights. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
 
 
    This little spectator at the Ronan Parade of Lights was clearly ready for Christmas and Halloween. It's just hard to know which holiday to prepare for, especially when it comes to collecting candy. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
 
 
    Merry elves Brian Miskimins, Katie Jo Elliott and Justine Welker prepare to disperse gift packages during the Ronan Chamber's Holiday Treasures drawing, held last Friday at the Visitors' Center. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
 
 


ARTICLES BY KRISTI NIEMEYER

Orchardists enjoy 'one of the best markets ever' for Flathead cherries
July 23, 2026 midnight

Orchardists enjoy 'one of the best markets ever' for Flathead cherries

Cherry grower Brian Campbell couldn’t be happier with this year’s harvest, and what he describes as “probably one of the best markets we've seen” for the luscious red fruit grown on the shores of Flathead Lake.

July 23, 2026 midnight

St. Ignatius Police signs on to Simply Report anti-trafficking partnership

The St. Ignatius Police Department is the first agency in Lake County, and among the first in Montana, to sign on to a new initiative that aims to combat human trafficking.

Teamwork helps state continue to thwart aquatic invaders
July 16, 2026 midnight

Teamwork helps state continue to thwart aquatic invaders

“We gotta keep it protected,” said Quinn Erwin of Helena as he waited in line at the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) check station in Ravalli July 2. He was on his way to Flathead Lake with two jet skis in tow.