Clearwater County whOville Celebration

The Clearwater County Chamber of Commerce appreciates all the community participants over the last month, helping to spread holiday cheer and activities. Local merchants have been hosting visitors, organizations have held shopping events and cheerful light displays have been popping up all over the area. This year’s theme “whOville Christmas” has been fun to bring to life. The event kicked off with a “Grinch on a Bench” scavenger hunt on Dec 1st, going until Christmas Eve. This activity encourages people to be out and ready to find him, while supporting the businesses that are giving a prize to the finder. The Orofino Old Fashion Christmas Festival and Light Parade were very well attended this year, with 20 parade entries and hundreds of people joining in on the fun. Thank you to LCCU for organizing the parade each year! The official Christmas Tree was lit on Dec 6th following the parade and all of the Orofino City Park will remain bright through the holiday season. We hope you enjoy the displays and let us know if you would like to help next year to keep the tradition alive. Santa visited with people for free photo taking and a candy cane from the Chamber, while P1FCU greeters provided cup cakes to the families. Volunteers from 490 Thornton group gave cookies and cocoa away on behalf of the Chamber and free cookie decorating was provided by the Little Brick Church. Eric Carr and Jen Runia were instrumental in making this event special and we appreciate them very much!

Parade entries were ID Dept of Corrections Honor Guard, Wild Weippe Rodeo Queen Ella Goetz, (Award) The Grand Claus’ Dennis & Shirley Harper, Vicki Main with Gunner, Jayden & Izzy, JSD 171 School Bus (1st place), OJSHS Jr High & Santa Claus, (Award) Holiday Cheermeister Toby Atkinson & family, Orofino Pool Committee, Clearwater Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club (2nd place), Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, Orofino Fire Dept., Clearwater County Ambulance, Twin Ridge Rural Fire District, Rotary Club of Orofino, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Dworshak State Park, Breathe Back Ministries, Schmidt Boys on bikes, USACE Dworshak Dam, O-Town Mugs&Grubs (3rd place), the Grinch and Orofino Police Dept assistance. Thank you parade announcer CJ Thompson from KLER and our judges. Thank you to all the participants and spectators!

Many hands helped to decorate the parks including the cadets from IDYCA and this year some business partners joined in making special displays. Thank you to Lewis Clark Credit Union Orofino, Potlatch #1 Financial Credit Union Orofino, Clearwater Cabin Rental & US Bank Orofino, the City of Orofino, BW Lodge at River’s Edge, Clearwater Valley Health, TLC Foundation, Rotary Club of Orofino Interact, Edward Jones Investments/Matt Sartini, O-Town Mugs&Grubs, Elite Repeat Gifts & Michael Hunter Cellular Service, and the Nativity by local congregation. Thank you to lighting committee members Terri & Dan Kiele, Dave Holland, BarbaraLee Jordan, Malia Erlewine, Kathy & Lyle Hendricks, Robert Meade, Kim Johnson, Kathy Miller, Dru Zolman, Michael Hunter, Heather Storms, and Ashley Steinbruecker. Thank you to Debco Construction and Twin Oaks Building Solutions for donating the use of the high lifts for reaching treetops. Thank you Nathan Jones for donating the straw to keep feet dry on the grass pathway to Santa.

Business partners for finding the “Grinch on a Bench” are Lauria’s Old Museum Antiques & Gifts, Clearwater Memorial Public Library, Back Country Trading Post, the Summer Garden Gate, Clearwater Saw Shop, Elk Snout Eatery & Mercantile, Elite Repeats, O-Town Mugs&Grubs, Clearwater County Land Title, Miller Marine Service & Sales, Tom’s Tavern, the Wild Hare, House of JuJu Orofino, James Music Products, Augie’s Deli & Ice Cream, The Design Center, Dworshak State Park Big Eddy, US Bank Orofino, the High Country Inn, and Coleman Oil Sunset Mart. Prizes are provided by these merchants at no cost or obligation to the winners.

Thank you to Avista Corp for your dedication and volunteerism in hanging the snowflakes and wreaths throughout the community, as well as the lights on our official Christmas tree at Cannon Park!

There is still time to send in your favorite light display pictures and help the Chamber award 3 winners for the Best Storefront Light Displays. Text them to 208-476-4335 or email to 6CDirector@gmail.com. Winners will be announced on Christmas Eve. Thank you to Rodgers Tree Care for sponsoring this year’s event. From all of us to all of you, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a joyous new year!

Cheermeister photo by Nancy Butler

all other photos by Erica Holland

Thank you,