It is certainly that time of year. Christmas concerts at schools, parades, parties, and gatherings. While many of these events are designed to get people in the holiday spirit, some double as fundraisers with the hopes of doing the same thing.

For the third straight year, the parent advisory council of the Gladstone Elementary School is holding Happy Rock Holiday Homes Thursday night with the hope of injecting some funds back into the school. Jen Sneesby is on the council and describes what the event is about.

"It is a self-guided tour through three beautifully decorated homes in and around Gladstone that will inspire you for the holiday season. To enter each of these homes on the tour you need your ticket and inside that are all the addresses of the homes that you will be stopping at, a map, and all the event information. Each home is decorated by the homeowner. They have generously given up their time and homes for the evening so everyone can take a look at their beautifully decorated house."

Sneesby is hoping the decorations put a holiday smile on everyone's face and added there will also be a bonus stop.

"We have a newly renovated office on the tour. It's the Broadfoot Fraser Agency's office that is fully decorated for Christmas. People can stop by and visit it as well."

Sneesby is excited for the event to happen once again and commented that it takes the effort of many to pull it off.

"There's a great group of people who get together and plan events every year. This one has always been very successful. We're just so happy to put it on and get everybody in the Christmas spirit. We've had a lot of generous Gladstone businesses sponsor the event, and then with our homeowners decorating the houses for us to open them up to our tourists, and the businesses who are selling the tickets for us, the group of parent council members who are behind the scenes putting this event together, it's a real team effort. It couldn't happen without all of that support."

The council is always looking at new ideas to raise money for the school and Sneesby says there will be other things happening in the community that night as well.

"Late night shopping at some spots, door prizes, some free coffee and hot chocolate, the Legion will stay open late. Many people use it for a date night or a friend night."

This is the first of many Christmas themed events in Gladstone over the next few weeks with the annual Kinsmen parade of lights going at 6 p.m. the very next night and several others to follow.

 

 

 

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