Jingle Bell Night, Jingles All the Way!

There may have been no snow in the skies, but there was an abundance of bubbles floating through the air as hundreds of Paris residents gathered in front of Cobblestone Common and eagerly waited for the annual tree lighting ceremony last night The Downtown Paris BIA hosts the annual event, dubbed Jingle Bell Night, where everyone gets a jump start on their holiday shopping. Christmas music, loads of treats and even a visit from Santa himself put everyone in the festive mood Pictured above selling cookies to fundraise for a trip to Doe Lake next year is the 79th Ontario Leap Unit representing Guiders of all ages. Below, the Paris Firefighters Club was set up on both Grand River Street North and Mechanic Street collecting new toy donations to officially kick off their Toy Drive for the Paris Community Christmas Hamper program. Representing council (below) is Councillor Jennifer Kyle, Mayor David Bailey and Councillor Steve Howes Absent from the photo, but present were Councillors Lukas Oakley, John Peirce and John Bell.

Both Santa Claus and the Grinch stole the show Friday night, greeting guests who packed the streets to celebrate the official start to the holiday season in town. Shoppers had a chance to enter a ballot into a draw for a shopping spree downtown Paris and the Brant Community Health Care System volunteers were on hand to wrap Christmas presents by donation to the BCHS. Carolers filled the streets and students from Sacred Heart School in Paris sang at the cenotaph.

Photos by Casandra Turnbull