Platte City’s “Winter Wonderland” will arrive early this holiday season.
On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the annual holiday lighting ceremony will take place in front of the Platte County Courthouse. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with all of Main Street a part of the activities designed for all ages with the Winter Wonderland theme.
The event is free and open to the public.
There will be horse-drawn carriage rides and the chance to visit Santa’s reindeer up close. The Platte City Middle School Honor Choir and the Platte County High School Concert Choir will sing holiday music on the courthouse steps, while, the Platte City Community Band and Platte County High School Brass Ensemble will play at the corner of Third and Main streets.
The high school’s flute ensemble will play inside the Ben Ferrel Museum, where this year’s Snow Princess will greet visitors. Each room in the museum has been
adopted and decorated by a different area organization with the Winter Wonderland tied into the decorations.
While the music will lead off the night, the traditional 6 p.m. countdown to the downtown lighting will be the featured event. Other highlights include recognition of the Pirates R.O.C.K. students, The Citizen coloring contest winners receiving their prize and a holiday greeting from both Platte City mayor Frank Offutt and Platte County commissioners.
The 2017 Snow Princess will be introduced and winners of the Main Street Holiday Decorating Contest will be
announced.
Shortly after the lighting ceremony, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive and head to the lobby of the Platte County Government Complex. Parents are welcome to take pictures of their kids with Santa Claus or a professional will be on hand to provide them at a fee.
Santa’s reindeer can be visited at the northwest corner of Third and Main streets.
Activities back include professional face painting (inside Platte City City Hall and at Cohen’s Art and Framing), balloon art (in the Santa Line), make and take crafts at the Baptist Church education building at 229 Main Street and children’s rides on Third Street near Wells Bank. A mini fire truck and mini train run throughout the evening carrying children on a short ride.
Horse-drawn carriage or sleigh rides will depart from in front of the courthouse starting at 6 p.m.
The Main Street game board allows kids to check in at nine locations and receive a sticker at each to complete the game. Completed game boards are then turned in at the Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce office (620 Third St.), the Central Platte Fire Protection Station or Platte City City Hall, making the entrant eligible for a prize drawing.
Hot cocoa, cider, coffee, popcorn, cotton candy, cookies, trail mix and doughnut holes will be available along Main Street along with small fire pits and hay bales to offer a place to enjoy the refreshments. The Pool Hall will be open with their famous cheeseburgers (special: buy one, get one 50 percent off).
The City of Platte City will be providing grilled hot dogs, chips and water at no cost, while the Central Platte Fire Protection District firemen will also be preparing chili this year. Those items served by emergency personnel at the fire station at Second and Main streets.
Kids can also tour the station and look at the departments trucks outside the building. The Northland Regional Ambulance District will have an ambulance at the same location.
Platte City Flower and Gift will serve fresh cotton candy, cake and punch, and five food trucks, including Scott’s Kitchen and Taste of Brazil, will also be on hand.
The Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce, Platte City Parks and Recreation and Platte City businesses and organizations sponsor the annual event. Trolley shuttles run every 15 to 20 minutes from the Platte County High School parking lot to downtown between 4:45 and 9 p.m.