Niceville Community Christmas celebration seeks sponsors, performers

With temperatures in the 90s and the Fourth of July hardly behind us, Christmas is probably not uppermost on your mind. But it is on the minds of organizers and supporters of the newly formed Niceville Community Christmas Guild, which is now seeking sponsors, participants and entertainers, for its proposed annual Niceville Community Christmas celebration in December.

"Our goal is to create a place for residents and guests to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit and beauty of the season," said Connie Naftel, president of Niceville Community Christmas Guild.

While the event may be five months away, support is needed now in order to best able the group to put its full plan into action for the inaugural event.

"This is a great opportunity for Niceville businesses to show their community pride," said Sandy Sims, business sponsorship chairman.

Businesses are needed to purchase lighted displays from a group of pre-selected displays. They may also support the effort by sponsoring such things as street lamp decorations, a miniature Christmas village, or by donating money for other decorations and expenses.

Local residents are also encouraged to take part by building or sponsoring a display, making a cash donation, or perhaps contributing useable holiday decorations.

Interested business owners should contact Sims at 678-2952; individuals who would like to help should call Naftel at 678-7595.

Schools, churches and other organizations interested in performing at the event are being urged to contact organizers now, too. They should contact Dalane Fox at 897-7491.

Organizers are planning a two-day festival, "Christmas at Town Hall," that will take place in the City Hall complex area and include strolling carolers and other entertainment, tree lighting, holiday food and beverages, Christmas displays, and vendors selling holiday items. Then, each night during December, the lights will go on and people can enjoy the many displays, as well as, nightly holiday performances from local schools, churches and other organizations.

The idea has been approved by the Niceville City Council and is strongly supported by Niceville City Manager Lannie Corbin.

Because the city will not be decorating the area formally known as the City Triangle due to the road improvements that are underway, Corbin said Niceville will shift its Christmas decorating efforts to support the event at the City Hall complex. He said the city will help the group with such things as Christmas decorations, electricity and manpower.

"The city can give quite a lot of help," said Corbin.

Corbin said he likes the community Christmas idea for many reasons, but most appealing to him is directly involving so many people from within the community.

"I think it’s going to be a real good thing," he said. "It’s an opportunity for a real community effort rather than just the city doing it."

For more information about the proposed Niceville Community Christmas, or to find out how you can help, visit the Friends of Niceville Web site by clicking on the front page link at www.niceville.com.