If the blanket of snow that coated the Nicola Valley earlier this week didn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, the week-long series of events that the Country Christmas Committee has in store starting this Monday (Nov. 23) is sure to do the trick.

Starting with a tree lighting at 6:30 in Spirit Square on Monday evening, it will only get more festive as the official Country Christmas Week progresses.

“We’re asking the citizens who decorate their house to turn those lights on for the first time at 6:30 that night,” said Sharon Edwards, volunteer coordinator on the committee.

Country Christmas

TUESDAY

Tuesday decorating work begins on the Festival of Trees at the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

“The people or businesses or organizations that have registered to decorate a tree [will be there],” said Edwards. “People can walk in and look, but the trees will be in various stages of being decorated.”

The big reveal will be later on in the week.

WEDNESDAY

The big event on Wednesday is the dance recital, at 7:00 p.m. at the Civic Centre. This is the third year the recital has been put on, and Edwards said it gets the crowds out.

“It’s free and very popular,” she said. “That’s put on by the Love to Dance Academy in Merritt. I went last year — I was very impressed.”

The civic centre will be decorated in time for that event on Wednesday evening with the Wreath Walk.

The Wreath Walk continues on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

THURSDAY

Thursday will feature the Annual Community Christmas Concert at 7:00 p.m. at the civic centre. Edwards said the list of performers is “quite long.”

“I’m in the community band, and we’ve been limited to three numbers, and two of them are short,” she laughed. “I know that the community band, the community choir and the children’s choir are performing, but there’s lots of talented individuals who have signed up.”

FRIDAY

Friday boasts the main event: the Light-up Parade, which will proceed down Quilchena Avenue beginning at 7:00 p.m. Edwards joked that half the town would be in the parade, and the other half would be watching. “I love that parade,” she said.

She was in charge of assembling the judges panel, and she said the committee wanted a broad cross-section of the community represented.

“There are students, there are professionals, there’s a woman from NVIT and there’s a member of the clergy,” she said. There will be a total of five judges.

But festivities don’t end with the parade.

The Baillie House will offer free cocoa to those looking to warm up, and they will also have the opportunity to purchase some baking.

Many of the businesses downtown will remain open to accommodate some evening Christmas shopping.

The Merritt Community Band will be playing an assortment of Christmas tunes in the foyer of the civic centre, where the Wreath Walk will be on display, and a concession will be open.

Also at the civic centre will be the Craft Fair, from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. “The Craft Fair opens at two in the afternoon, but it’s busiest after the parade, I think,” said Edwards.

Santa Land, at the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, will also open following the parade, where kids can meet Santa for a photo, and check out the now fully decorated Festival of Trees.

Also at the hall of fame, for the first time this year, nativity scenes from around the world will be on display. “An individual in town has offered to set these up,” said Edwards. “They’re mostly from his travels in Third World countries.”

SATURDAY

The Craft Project is back, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Edwards said this was such a hit with all ages last year that they had to do it again this year.

“It’s all free, the supplies are all donated. It’s all just old Christmas decorations and creative people — the kids do what they want.” She said the project this year is wreath-making.

It doesn’t end there. While there’s nothing new on the docket, most of the events continue again on Saturday morning and into the afternoon and evening.

Correction: This article originally conflated the Craft Fair and the Craft Project, which are two entirely separate events. The Herald regrets the error.