By Tim Leeds
Montana State University-Northern was filled with Christmas festivities yesterday while university clubs threw a free party for the campus and community.
The event, held in the Student Union Building Ballroom and Fireside Room, started at 4 p.m. and ran until about 8 p.m. Three organizations read Christmas stories to the kids attending, different clubs had tables set up with activities to entertain the kids, and the university food service provided a free meal at a taco counter.
ASMSUN Vice President Karen Toavs said this event has gone on for quite a while, but it's usually just advertised on campus. She said she knows the party has been held at least since 1989.
They decided to let the community know they were also invited this year, Toavs said.
"There's a lot more kids here than in the past," she said.
Toavs said the activity is intended to be family oriented, with both a free meal as well as activities for the kids. She said Jason Deagle, food service manager at the university, was a lot of help setting up the event, as he usually is.
"He does a great job working with groups at Northern," she said.
She said they really appreciated the donation of 10 Christmas trees from Albertson's in Havre. The donated trees were decorated at the party last night, and will be taken to The Salvation Army to be given to needy families in the area.
The activity tables were crowded with kids shortly after the event started. The clubs had a variety of activities at the party, such as making snowmen out of marshmallows and gumdrops, decorating pipe cleaner candy canes, making a Christmas tree book with a Santa wish-list and more. It wasn't long before the dining tables were also getting crowded with guests sampling the food service's extensive Taco bar as well.
