BONNERS FERRY — A plan to unify the community’s Christmas celebrations was the focus of a community meeting held at the VFW Hall on Monday, Jan. 19. 

Several groups were represented at the meeting among the two dozen or so attendees, including the VFW, Rotary and the school district. No plans were finalized and most attendees listened as Sheryl Neal of Al Wilson Auto Repair explained why she decided to propose the idea. 

“The problem that I was hearing from parents, children and some businesspeople in town is that the town becomes divided during the holiday season,” Neal said, referencing several different events held across the county to celebrate Christmas. 

“We kind of came up with an idea that the fairgrounds, which we all pay tax dollars to, would be a perfect place,” Neal said. “If we took four to five days and literally brought every event for the holidays to one location, people would not have to travel.” 

Neal also said having just one Santa in town could be a benefit. 

“What we were hearing from a lot of parents is that they will only go to one event because there are too many Santa Clauses that are brought in and it really affects how they explain Santa to their kids,” she said. 

She has also been in contact with Budweiser. 

“They are willing to come up with the Clydesdale horses and do sleigh rides with their wagon,” Neal said. “If we have snow, they’ll put the sleighs on the carriage and they’ll do sleigh rides for us.” 

She said Budweiser would provide the service for free, barring the fuel cost to transport the horses. 

“It would be a game changer for Bonners Ferry and the community and it would also get all of the children involved to be actually a part of the community,” Neal said. 

Neal emphasized multiple times that involving children in the community, whether they attend public, private or homeschool, was a priority. 

“That’s what’s going to basically define Bonners Ferry — the kids that are growing up today,” Neal said. “So if we can include them in every way possible, I think it would be amazing, absolutely amazing.”