Rudyard Christmas festival slated for Sunday

Tim Leeds Havre Daily News [email protected]

Residents of Rudyard are inviting all to some seasonal fun Sunday for their annual Christmas festival, set to run 1 to 5 p.m. in The Pit at the Rudyard school to see Santa Claus, listen to carolers, view craft items, look at the houses entered in a decorating contest and more. “We're inviting everybody down, all up and down the Hi-Line,” said Lynn Hybner. Rudyard has held an annual festival for 20 years or more, and participants are always trying to improve the event, said Glenda Pester. “We adjust it and try to make it better,” she said. Last year the festival was held in The Rock Building, which historically held a parts and repair shop in Rudyard. Now, courtesy of benefactor Michael Fleissner, a German publisher who bought and had the building restored after he passed through Rudyard on a trip a few years ago, it holds the latest addition to Rudyard's growing museum complex, a facility holding antique cars from the area. While that venue wasn't available this year due to the cars displayed in the building, it was a popular spot. “That went over very well,” Pester said. Bonnie Terry of Rudyard said that although the restoration of the building had just started, the location wasWonderful. “It was really fun. It had the balcony, and the carolers could come in and sing (there),” she said. “People came in from all over. It was just packed.” She said crafters from around the area and even other parts of the state come to display and sell their work, some of which has been sold to benefit local charities. This year there is also a special raffle of a fully decorated Christmas tree to benefit the Rudyard Commercial Club, which sponsors the festival. The tree is on display at Wells Fargo Bank in Rudyard. “So we can keep doing this every year,” said Terry. “We love it.” This year there will be hay rides available during the festival, carolers including local choir students will regale the crowd “We take all the talent we can,” Hybner said a silent auction to benefit Rudyard's museums and chili and hot dogs will be for sale. At 4:15 p.m. Pastor Don Hardesty of the Calvary Evangel ical Church in Rudyard will read the Christmas story. A house decorating contest is also being held over the weekend, with the winner selected Saturday night. Terry said that after the festival, everyone is welcome to drive around the community and see the decorations. Pester said the festival seems to help everyone come together and join in the Christmas spirit. “It brings the unity of community and the community spirit,” she said. “I think that's what it's all about.”