On a chilly Saturday evening, St. Ignatius was home to Christmas cheer with a side of hot cider, holiday tunes, a live reindeer and a visit from Santa at Good Old Days Park.  

The third annual St. Ignatius Chamber of Commerce Christmas Festival was held Dec. 6; festivities also included a tree lighting at Gariepy Park and a parade through town. The chamber previously hosted the entire event at Gariepy Park on Blaine Street, but it outgrew that space and was moved to the more spacious Good Old Days Park.  

Darren Orr, who has been a chamber member for the last 20 years, coordinated this event. Orr started fundraising for the festival in August to bring in the reindeer and finance door prizes. He noted that donations came from local businesses such as Blackfoot Communications, Valley Banks and S&K Gaming. 

Orr envisioned a winter market for this festival and recruited about six vendors, who offered Christmas gifts. He explained that more were signed up, but with rain in the forecast some canceled.  

The St. Ignatius Fire Department, St. Ignatius Police, local businesses and churches were all part of the parade of lights. The 17 floats and trucks were decorated with Christmas lights and holiday inflatables as they filled the downtown with music and cheer. 

Regardless of the chilly temperatures, Orr said he was pleased with attendance as people filled the park and kids and adults lined the parade route.     Reece Bailey and Tom Mullins brought down snowmobiles to give rides to all the kids at the St. Ignatius Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 6. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 The pavilion at Good Old Days Park filled with vendors, locals and Santa on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the St. Ignatius Christmas Festival. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 The St. Ignatius Fire Department brought multiple decorated trucks to ride in the parade of lights on Saturday, Dec. 6 during the St. Ignatius Christmas Festival. (Emily Messer/Leader)

 The large tree at Gariepy Park was lit during the St. Ignatius Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 6. (Emily Messer/Leader)