Ephrata celebrates Miracle on Main Street
Karin Buchmann helps her granddaughter Emma Buchmann, 4, string beads on a necklace during the indoor activities for Ephrata's Miracle on Main Street Christmas Celebration in 2009. This year's event is Saturday.
EPHRATA - A fun run, family dance, parade and bake sale are part of Saturday's Miracle on Main Street event in downtown Ephrata.
"We're trying to get people into the community," said Lisa Vargas, a member of the event committee. "We're just a little community, but we have big hearts in our community."
Every year, the town holds the popular Basin Summer Sounds music event, she explained.
"We're trying to continue in our path to do things that are helpful, that will bring people into the community and get us recognized," Vargas commented.
She expects between 50 and 100 people visit downtown to shop on Saturday.
The Jingle Bell Fun Run starts at 11 a.m. On race day, registration takes place from 10 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. at AmericanWest Bank, 261 Basin St. SW.
The 1.9 mile race starts along Basin Street and proceeds down Fourth Avenue. The race ends at Grant PUD's parking lot.
To download a race registration form, visit www.ephratawachamber.com.
Starting at noon, a bake sale and Christmas music can be found at the former Blue Flame Restaurant, at 26 Basin Street NW.
Kids activities are found inside the Ephrata Recreation Center, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 112 Basin St. SW. Kids can paint a terra cotta pot as part of ACE Hardware's painting project and give their creation as a gift.
Other activities inside the recreation center include face painting, photos with Santa, ornament making and a cookie walk.
St. Rose of Lima Catholic School students serve food from noon to 4 p.m. at the recreation center.
The "Lighting the Night" parade begins at 5 p.m. Parade organizer Pam Leseman recommends people watch the parade from Basin Street where many of the event activities take place.
Parade participants can register the day of the event.
To download a parade registration form, visit www.ephratawachamber.com/index.htm.
Completed forms can be brought to the Ephrata chamber office, Ephrata Subway, Washington Trust Bank or the Ephrata Liquor Store.
To wrap up the evening, a free, family dance is held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the recreation center.