Sauk Rapids Jingle and Mingle Lights Up Downtown Dec. 10

(KNSI) – Santa’s got a brand new bag!

The Sauk Rapids Winter Festival is changing its name to the Downtown Jingle and Mingle. It’s anchored by the lighted parade, which will travel along 2nd Avenue beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 10th. Register by emailing SaukRapidsParade@gmail.com

Jingle and Mingle is a holiday-themed love letter to local businesses. Organizer Marla Elness says they do so much to support the community, citing school sports as an example. This event will pack the downtown area and allows residents to help stores and restaurants out.

“We’re trying to create the application of full circle of ideas, where our businesses have really been the backbone to helping a lot of our school sports and organizations there. So when it comes to bringing business back to those businesses, it’s sort of the full circle.”

In addition to the parade, Elness says other activities are planned to ensure it’s filled to the brim with Christmas.

“We wanted to add to the festivity some of the traditions of Christmas and the holidays. So we’ve got singing groups, church choirs, and theatre companies that are coming and doing our caroling. In addition, we’ll have a living nativity. They’ve got live animals. They’ve got camels there.”

The living nativity will be in the Coborn’s Market parking lot from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Elness says come during the day to the artisan market at Riverside Terrace Event Center at 9:00 a.m., with horse-drawn carriage rides and Llama Wonder-Rama for the kids. A meat raffle is also planned, with cookie sales and hot chocolate.

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