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I 2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, November 30,1994 MiXm Christmas Carols and Tree Lighting Start BIA's Moonlight Magic by Laura J. Richards Candlelight, singing and the lighting of the living Christmas tree will help usher in the Christmas magic in Bowmanvillc on Friday night, Dee. 2. And downtown stores will remain remain open until midnight on December December 2 as part of the Moonlight Magic event. Helping to set the mood, there will be a gathering of voices at St. Paul's United Church at 6:30 Friday evening for folks who wish to be a part of a choir which will be walking walking through some of the downtown streets, said BIA General Manager Garth Gilpin. Downtown stores will remain open until midnight on Dec. 2nd as part of the magical switch. Next on die agenda for the evening's evening's program will be more songs with the crowd being invited to join in. Afterwards, everyone will be invited invited to enjoy hot, made-on-the-spot donuts, hot coffee and/or hot chocolate chocolate provided by Skylight Donuts Proceeds from sales are going to Memorial Hospital, Gilpin noted. Wee ones should be on the look out for a jolly old elf sporting a red suit with white fur. "It is rumored dial he will be making an appearance appearance if he can squeeze another Bow- manville stop into his already tight schedule," the BIA manager explained. explained. After the Christmas Tree Lighting Lighting event, don't forget to remain downtown to pop into your favorite stores to shop for Christmas. Gilpin noted stores will stay open until midnight on Friday night. In fact, stores remaining open will be featuring specials especially from their regular closing time of 9 o'clock til the magical hour of midnight. midnight. "To help entice shoppers into stores, some businesses will have hot cider and goodies for those who drop in," Gilpin said. While cider and goodies sound like treats for adults and children alike, businesses have an extra surprise surprise for children who have always wondered what it would be like to have a rack of antlers atop their heads. "Store owners will be turning children into Santa's reindeer with ighl cardboard cut-out antlers," Gilpin Gilpin stated. To help people get downtown, the Downtown Business Improvement Improvement Area merchants will be provid ing free transportation via a magic shuttle bus. 1' Also, starting on Saturday, Dee. 3, as well as on Dec. 10 and 17, Santa will be in downtown Bowmanvillc Bowmanvillc to listen to children's wish lists. For a couple of loonies, Santa's Santa's elves will lake a photo of young ones with the Jolly Old Elf. He will be located near the Christmas tree on Temperance Street, near the Bank of Montreal. •; "Everyone is invited to gather on the lawn to join "members of some of the Bowmanvillc Churches in this," he said. Before moving off to the town's core, singers will be given candles to light their way. Upon arriving at the comer of Temperance and King Street, the Trinity United Church Choir under the direction of John Cruickshank, will sing two Christmas anthems. This should happen at 7 p.m. The official tree lighting ceremony will begin at 7:15p.m. beside the tree located next to the Bank of Montreal. The official Tree Lighting Ceremony Ceremony will begin at 7:15, beside the tree located next to the Bank of Montreal, Gilpin said. Cory Kuipers will be directing two choirs from the Maranatha Christian Reformed Church of Bowmanvillc Bowmanvillc and the Knox Presbyterian Church of Oshawa during a sing- along. Members of the public will be invited to join the two groups. Next, Rev. Nancy Knox of St. Paul's United Church will bring a short Christmas message and a prayer for the season on behalf of the Bowmanvillc Ministerial Association. Association. Hospital Fund-Raising Campaign is Part of Tree-Lighting Ceremony Then, Alvin and Diggs, the mascots mascots of this year's "We're Better Together" Together" fund-raising campaign by Memorial Hospital, Bowmanvillc will pick up the magical Christmas light switch so that Mayor Diane Hamrc can flick it. This year, to bring a special feeling feeling of ownership to the people of the community, the lights placed on the tree will be there because of special special donations given to Memorial Hospital. The service of placing of the* lights has been donated by Bert Snowden Electric of Maple Grove, Gilpin told The Statesman Clar-r 1 ington residents have dipped intoi their pockets to give $5 or more for j a light bulb, Donations from the! "sale" of the lights will also go to*' wards the purchasing of a video- gastroscopc for the hospital, The 15-foot tree should be dazzling dazzling with lots of twinkling lights when Mayor Hamrc pushes the