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By Stan Ashbee
Westwind Weekly News
Dec. 7 marks the 21st year Raymond has celebrated its Old Fashion Christmas.
“It runs the first Friday of every December,” said Diane Dunn-Heninger, director of the Raymond and District’s Chamber of Commerce Old Fashion Christmas.
“I love it. I have so many kids say that’s what starts Christmas. When Old Fashion Christmas comes — the parents and the teachers tell me, that starts Christmas and they know Christmas is coming. It’s a town tradition.”
Santa comes to town at 6 p.m. to start the annual festivities at Raymond High School. “Also at the high school we have cookies for kids to decorate,” Dunn-Heninger added.
According to Dunn-Heninger, the town’s fire department will be serving hot chocolate and donuts in front of the Mercantile. “They do that every year.”
Old Fashion Christmas in Raymond will also feature balloon animals, wagon rides, a wacky photo booth at Broadway Dental, hot apple cider and ginger snaps at Raymond Chiropractic, homemade Christmas crafts at ATB, a Christmas tree craft at Back to Health Chiropractic, and cotton candy and face painting at Bright Futures Daycare.
“This year, the Rose Cottage is giving us treats. This is their first year to do this,” she said.
There will be a bon fire, late night shopping with a lot of in-store specials, and a variety of different draws at locations throughout the town.
“There’s carolling up and down the street,” she added.
Dunn-Heninger said Old Fashion Christmas gets tons of kids out. “It’s a lot of fun.”
“When I go up and down the streets and I see families and they’re laughing, talking, and visiting and the whole town is getting together — it’s so good for the town,” she said.
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