Setting the stage for the holidays, this year’s Railside Christmas celebration took advantage of the new Amur Plaza stage.
Friday’s Railside Christmas festivities were hosted, for the first time, from the permanent stage, which was built this year.
The downtown Christmas tree remained in its usual spot, on the other end of Amur Plaza.
The crowd was also the same as usual. A large number of families flocked downtown for the holiday party.
The evening’s emcee was Parker Loghry, who works at R8 Productions. That company provides the sound and lighting for Railside Christmas.
The Northwest High School Gold Tones performed Christmas music on the stage, leading up to the tree lighting.
Mrs. Claus holds River Brokaw, 8 moths old, at the G.I. Tourism Building during the Railside Christmas in downtown Grand Island on Friday night.
Mayor Roger Steele thanked Railside and a “wonderful group of volunteers” who put “on the best Christmas celebration in the state of Nebraska.
“I’m here to tell you, we have so much to be proud of, so many accomplishments. Just one of those accomplishments is this stage and this entertainment venue, right here in the heart of Grand Island, Nebraska,” Steele said.
Steele then led the countdown to the lighting of the Christmas tree. This year’s tree, a Concolor Fir, came from city property, along the bike trail near Blaine Street. It needed to be removed because it was too big for its location.
One of the speakers was Andy Gdowski, president of the Railside business improvement district board.
Wagon rides were part of the fun o the downtown Railside Christmas in Grand Island on Friday night.
Gdowski thanked the volunteers “for making this possible. Make sure you stop by some of the participating businesses here. They’re all up and down Third Street, all downtown in the Railside district. So please support those businesses,” he said.
Gdowski reflected “on where we’ve come with this event. More and more folks come each year.”
The event, he said, was taking place in the newly renovated Amur Plaza “under the new lights on our new stage.”
More and more businesses participate each year in Railside Christmas, Gdowski said.
Shortly after the tree was lit, vocalist Becca Eaton took the stage. The first song she performed was “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Before the tree lighting, a group of popular Christmas figures appeared onstage. They included Snoopy, the Grinch and characters from “Frozen” — Olaf, Anna and Elsa.
A live Nativity at New Life during Railside Christmas in downtown Grand Island on Friday night.
Elsa was played by Hannah Siwinski, while Amanda Kulp portrayed Anna.
Parents enjoyed taking pictures of the Christmas figures, including Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Performing in Amur Plaza were the Heartland School of Dance, the Dance Company and Create 308.
The evening also included wagon rides, face painting, a scavenger hunt, a Christmas obstacle course, barrel train rides and a live nativity.
