As the Christmas season approaches, a challenge has been issued to make downtown look its best for the holidays.
The Holiday Clean Sweep Challenge is slated from 7 a.m. until noon Saturday.
“We’re preparing for the holiday decorations to go up and for all of the events downtown,” Andrea Porter, a city employee who is helping coordinate the event, said. “We’d like everything to look nice for the Cruise-In, Kiwanis Christmas Parade and the lighting festivities.”
Dec. 1 will be a busy day in Columbia, with the Columbia Gearheads Cruise-In helping kick things off on Main Street before the annual Christmas parade.
After the 6 p.m. parade, attendees are being encouraged to stay downtown and enjoy the lighting of the Marion County Courthouse and food and music.
“We’re expecting a lot of visitors to come to town, not only for the parade and lighting, but to see the lights and shop downtown,” Porter said. “Plus we want it to look nice for ourselves. We just want to do what we can before. We’re calling it a challenge because we want everyone to commit to something.”
Store owners are being urged to spruce up or decorate storefronts and businesses, organizations, churches, youth groups and individuals are encouraged to come downtown and join in.
For more information, contact Porter at City Hall at (601) 736-8201.
“To join in, just come downtown and if your need direction or a task, we can let you know,” she said. “If you come to help, we’ll hook you up with something to do.”
