Reporter for The Canyon Weekly
The Santiam Canyon PTO is celebrating the success of the inaugural Santiam Canyon Christmas Extravaganza last December and is encouraged to keep the new event going.
Held Dec. 2, 2023, in Mill City, the event was organized jointly by the PTO and Santiam Young Life and saw robust participation despite rain and high winds earlier in the day.
In a statement to The Canyon Weekly, the PTO said they fulfilled their goal of planting the seeds of a new community tradition.
“We are extremely proud of how this community came together to create such an amazing day for our small town,” said the PTO release.
The Extravaganza grew out of post-COVID Christmas events put on separately by the PTO and Young Life in 2022. In 2023 the groups combined efforts with support from the City of Mill City and the Santiam Canyon School District.
The PTO said, despite “gale force winds and rain,” the Ugly Sweater Run that morning got underway with a couple of brave runners. The bazaar in the gym also saw strong participation, with the PTO reporting multiple vendors “brought in more profit at our one day event than any of their previous bazaars in (2023).”
They also reported successful fundraising by Young Life through their bake sale and photos with Santa.
When the weather cleared that evening, around 45 residents attended the tree-lighting at City Hall, accompanied by hot chocolate, carols and a surprise appearance by Santa.
The PTO said they “look forward to many years of continuing this tradition!”
