The Clearwater County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Clay & Ellie Hesson as the 2022 Christmas Festival Grand Clauses! Look for them to be in the Old Fashioned Lighted Parade, driving in style in one of their autos from the collection Clay keeps in immaculate condition. Clay & Ellie have been involved in community events and supported many great causes, especially over the years they owned and operated Valley Motor Parts, Orofino. I had the privilege of working for Clay and Ellie for several years and got to know what a great couple they are. Originally from Oregon, Ellie has lived in Orofino since moving from Pierce after her daughter and son graduated from Timberline High School. Clay came from Tennessee to live in Orofino when he was 18 years old and went straight to work at the NAPA Store. Life’s journey took them on separate paths until they met and got hitched in August of 2000 and they have worked and played side by side and hand in hand ever since. Together Clay & Ellie enjoy all the outdoor adventures they can find in Clearwater County and beyond. Thank you Clay & Ellie for your dedication to our community and for representing it so well!

 The Christmas Festival will begin with parade line-up starting at 5pm Dec 2nd on C Street, Orofino. 6pm is parade start time and will follow Michigan Ave to Johnson Ave and end after passing Brookside Landing, where residents enjoy seeing the lights from the entry or through their windows. Participants may disburse from there or continue on 3rd Street over to Main Street to be routed toward Cannon Park or Orofino City Park for the crowd to enjoy the festivities together. Once gathered, the countdown will begin for the traditional lighting of the tall pine centrally located at the corner of Michigan & Riverside Avenues. Spectators are encouraged to find a spot along Michigan Ave overlooking the park and help countdown and view the lighting, then continue on into the city park where lights, cocoa, live nativity and Santa will be. Winners chosen from the parade entries will be announced and awarded at the park. Thank you to LCCU for organizing the parade and providing treats for Santa’s helpers, Matt Sartini for organizing the judges and CJ Thompson of KLER as parade announcer.

 The Orofino Old Fashioned Lighted Parade & Christmas Festival is funded by generous donations (SJX Jetboats, Sandy River Marketing, Orofino Physical Therapy, Nancy Greene and Audrey Steiner) and grants, and all activities are volunteer driven for your enjoyment. Please consider being a part of the committee to organize next year’s event by contacting Chamber Director, Erica Holland by phone 208-476-4335 or email 6cdirector@gmail.com.

 Thank you Idaho Youth Challenge Academy Cadets, OJSHS Seniors Ashley Lee and Matt Caster, Terri (US Bank)& Dan Kiele, Dave Holland (Debco), Dan Lambert (Ziply), Adam Ott (ITD), Michael Hunter (Inland Cellular), and Ashley (CVH)& Cody Steinbruecker (Steinbruecker Logging) for helping to hang all the lights in Orofino City Park. Thank you to Malia (LCCU)& Jared Erlewine for decorating Heritage Plaza and Lee Lira (P1FCU) for the surrounding lights at Cannon Park. Special thanks to Chad Steinbruecker of Avista for the lights on the tall pine and all the festive wreaths and snowflakes hanging throughout our town. You all have made our town sparkle and glow and we appreciate your efforts. Please join us and enjoy the holiday cheer!