MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake has reached a landmark, according to Downtown Moses Lake Association Executive Director Mallory Miller. 

“A lot of people noticed our new LED snowflakes, and people said it looked a lot like the Hallmark Channel,” Miller said. “(That) really made me happy, because that’s something I’ve been trying to do for a couple of years for downtown Moses Lake.” 

About 400 people came out Nov. 21 for the Downtown Tree Lighting, the unofficial kickoff to the Christmas season in Moses Lake. The tree itself is a 24-footer that will stand in Sinkiuse Square until the holidays are over. The occasion was marked with music from DJ Dale Roth, crafts and coloring sheets for the children and hot cocoa from the Viking Eatery and Coffee Bar, Miller said. Santa Claus made an appearance, arriving on a fire engine. 

A highlight that returned this year was the downtown shopping scavenger hunt. Ten downtown businesses hid ornaments somewhere in their shops, and children went from sop to shop looking for them. And where the children went, the parents followed, getting acquainted with businesses they might not have known about before. 

“It was really cool to see people running through the streets, and shopping locally,” Miller said. “That’s one of the reasons I love the scavenger hunt. People come up to us at the (DMLA) table and ask ‘Where is this place?’ I don’t know, go find it. That’s the whole point of the scavenger hunt.” 

The event was helped along by lots of local sponsors, Miller said. Spokane Teachers Credit Union bought the LED snowflakes, which were installed among the traditional wreaths on the light posts downtown. Renewal by Anderson, Viking Eatery and Arrowhead Roofing also stepped up to make the occasion happen, she said. 

The next event downtown will be the Ag Appreciation Parade, which is next Friday.  

“These are just fun events we put on for everyone to come and enjoy,” Miller said. 

Nance Beston contributed to this report. 

    Between the new LED snowflakes, upper right, and the festivities, the Moses Lake Downtown Tree Lighting was reminiscent of a Hallmark Christmas movie, said DMLA Director Mallory Miller.
  

    Moses Lake’s Downtown Tree Lighting included a fire engine children could climb into and explore.
  

    Darren Starr poses for a photo with Satna at the Downtown Tree Lighting Nov. 21.