Grinches may have taken the lights from Mount Airy's Christmas tree last weekend and smashed them to pieces on the ground, but the vandals can't steal the spirit of Christmas in Olde Towne.
Mount Airy will kick off the holiday season tonight, with a Main Street celebration, featuring carolers, Santa Claus and Christmas craft sales.
And the tree lighting will take place at 7 p.m., as planned, thanks to some fast work by Irene Brown, who has organized Christmas in Olde Towne for the last two years.
After making a flurry of phone calls, Mrs. Brown located a company in Frankenmuth, Mich., that had the type of lights she needed. "I was determined to have a tree," she said.
Brawner's Christmas Wonderland sent the lights by Federal Express to the Mount Airy Town Hall, and they arrived yesterday.
Jim Schwartz, one of the owners of DMS Sign Connection of Mount Airy, paid some of his employees overtime yesterday to put the new lights on the town's 55-foot Christmas tree. He also donated the use of the company's aerial ladder for the job.
"We went the roundabout way, but we got them," said Mrs. Brown, of the tree lights.
Christmas in Olde Towne festivities will begin at 6 p.m., when Santa Claus arrives at the old Mount Airy Train Station, and continue until 9 p.m. Tomorrow's events are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Over the past two holiday seasons, Mrs. Brown says she's attempted to include all age groups. "I've tried to gear it toward the whole community and get the kids involved," Mrs. Brown said.
For the third year, the Mount Airy Middle School choir and school band will perform.
South Carroll High School art students painted the scenic backdrop for Santa Claus's visits.
For younger children, the Mount Airy News and Whistle Stop Books will offer story time hours.
"It's things like this that keep small towns bonded together," said Pat Vacchio, who owns Mirage Hair and Cosmetic Salon.
"Because I work in a small town and own a business here, I like to promote community camaraderie."
In addition to spreading good cheer, Christmas in Olde Towne provides an opportunity for Main Street merchants to extend their hours for some holiday business.
"It gets people to shop in Mount Airy and support the local businesses before they go to the malls," Mrs. Brown said.
Ms. Vacchio said that Christmas in Olde Towne also gives her time to mingle with the customers.
"You can invite people to come in, have some hot mulled apple cider and warm up," she said.
Walt Dennison, owner of Dennison's Trackside Hobbies, likes Christmas in Olde Towne because of its small scale.
"It's not too big, it's manageable and that makes it nice," he said.
On the second floor of Dennison's Trackside Hobbies, the Four-County Society of Model Engineers will display its model train layout at an open house.
Other Olde Towne Christmas activities include: carolers from Grace New Covenant Church dressed in Victorian costumes, picture-taking with Santa Claus and a performance by the Linganore High School Band. Various local groups will be selling refreshments throughout the festivities.