At right: Trying to keep peanut butter off fingers is a nearly impossible task, as first grade student Maddie Winberg soon discovered. She did manage to keep the cord that will hang the birdfriendly Christmas star out of the gooey mess as she made ornaments at St. Ignace Elementary School last week. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an early stop in St. Ignace Friday, December 5, at 6 p.m., taking part in the "Home for the Holidays" Christmas parade and community tree lighting ceremony. Children also can get their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Preparations for the annual event began two weeks ago, when downtown lampposts were decorated with garland, holiday lights, and oversized red bows.

Last week, city crews placed small Christmas trees along the sidewalks on downtown State Street. In St. Ignace school classrooms, children made holiday ornaments for the trees, including those that will feed birds.

First grade students in Sherrie Gustafson's and Marcia Bishop's classes made ornaments using peanut butter and birdseed. Their trees will be wrapped in garland crafted from cereal and apples. Students are scheduled to decorate the evergreens downtown by Friday.

Dennis Brown (from left), Brian Peterson, and Gary Bigelow of the St. Ignace Department of Public Works cut down the community Christmas tree Wednesday, November 26. The blue spruce was donated by Arlene Eby of St. Ignace. The fast-growing evergreen, said her daughter, Lynda Eby, has grown too close to her mother's house. "Why waste the tree," she said, "when you can donate it?" City crews cut down an approximately 18-foot-tall blue spruce that will serve as the community Christmas tree, donated by resident Arlene Eby. The tree, nearly as wide as it is tall, had overgrown its place in her yard. The blue spruce has been anchored in the grassy area just north of the St. Ignace City Marina and decorated with multicolored lights.

The community sign on North State Street near American Legion Park has been updated to alert residents and visitors of the upcoming parade and tree lighting ceremony.

The parade will begin at the city Fire Hall and weave its way south along State Street, ending at the marina. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive to town, riding on a firetruck at the end of the parade. They will be greeted by Mayor Paul Grondin, who will give the couple a key to the city. Then, the switch will be flipped to turn on the lights of the tree. The tree lighting ceremony has been a St. Ignace tradition for 37 years.

Almost as wide as it is tall and taking up nearly two traffic lanes, St. Ignace's 2008 Christmas tree slowly is transported along State Street to the city garage Wednesday. The tree was to be trimmed before being loaded back onto the trailer and delivered to its new holiday home near the city marina. Following the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their way to the Pavillion mall, where they will meet with youngsters, hear Christmas wishes, and pose for photographs.

The St. Ignace Community Children's Chorus will sing songs of the season and treats will be given to young visitors.

Home for the Holidays events are sponsored by St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce and its Business Association members, which also are sponsoring a $500 Christmas Shopping Spree giveaway. Shoppers may register at participating downtown businesses and the winner will be drawn the week of December 8.

Using pieces of bread shaped as a holiday bell and a Christmas tree, St. Ignace Elementary student Garett Rickley covered the decorations with peanut butter and topped them with birdseed. He and other first grade students made the ornaments Wednesday, November 26. Elementary school classrooms are each decorating one of the Christmas trees on State Street. Special holiday shopping nights scheduled include Ladies Night Shopping Friday, December 12, and Men's Night Shopping Friday, December 19, both from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

At left: First grade student Logan Rickley ignores classroom chatter and concentrates while thoroughly spreading a thick layer of peanut butter over a pinecone. She then added a layer of birdseed. The cone will decorate a Christmas tree on State Street.