North Pole Family Fun Day Features Santa and Free Fun

(November 24, 2008)  Santa, Rudolph and the elves roll into downtown Paris on the big, red fire engine Friday morning at 10:00 am kicking off North Pole Family Fun Day, an annual event sponsored by the Downtown Paris Association (DPA). With more than a dozen free activities for busy little hands, the fun lasts from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in West Tennessee’s festive downtown shopping hub.

Children can give the big man in red their list and purchase photos made with him by Project Graduation Elves. Afterward, little ones (and even big ones) can enjoy more than a dozen free activities, including mule and buggy rides and roaming musicians, courtesy of the DPA and the Villages of Paris.

Craft tables with “make and take” holiday goodies will be hosted by the 4-H Honors Club and Henry County Girl Scouts and will be located outside stores throughout downtown. Other crafts include the PARIS! magazine booth where children can make their very own “Special Snowman Edition” magazine covers. At the Kroger booth, children can decorate a delicious Christmas cookie.

At Commercial Bank, a face painter will be on hand to decorate young faces while photographers from www.hcndigest.com will be making pictures in front of a winter scene at Endless Possibilities. Photos can be downloaded and emailed for free from the site and sent to family near and far.

Plenty of delicious snacks will accompany the children’s wide eyes and holiday laughter. The PI will offer free popcorn and the Paris Antique Mall on North Poplar will offer free popcorn and hot chocolate.

Every half hour (10:30, 11:00, 11:30; 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30), members of the HCHS Speech Team will read The Polar Express at the beautifully decorated Old Depot on Fentress Street, now Vicky Muzzall’s Tax Service. Youngsters will receive a free train whistle from Miss Vicky.

All of these activities are free, although some ask for a small donation for their charitable activities. For more information on North Pole Family Fun Day and Downtown Unwrapped contact Mike Key at 731-642-9271 or log on www.VisitDowntownParis.com.