'Twas the night before Moonlight Magic!

Santa and his advance-crew helpers have arrived in Sault Ste. Marie and are working fiercely all along Queen Street to prepare for the 2020 Moonlight Magic (COVID edition), which starts Thursday.

There will be no in-person community tree-lighting ceremony this year, but the tree on the courthouse lawn has been properly trimmed and decorated, and was sitting dark Wednesday night.

Organizers have been guarded about details of the event at recent civic meetings, probably because of coronavirus-related restrictions on the size of outdoor events.

The tree-lighting ceremony typically brings crowds of 5,000 or more downtown, something that can't happen this year.

Here's what we know so far:

• this year's event is being promoted as Moonlight Magic: 12 Days To Light Up The Holidays
• with generous support from PUC, holiday light displays have been set up along the entire length of Queen Street, including the future location of the downtown plaza
• storefronts are decorated and lit for the holidays
• evicted from the courthouse lawn last year, Santa has parked his toy-laden sled across the street at the March Street parkette
• participating businesses are extending their shopping hours Thursday and Friday evenings through the end of November and all of December
• there's a huge push this year on shopping locally
• everyone is asked to observe social distancing and other public health measures including crowd-size restrictions
• starting Thursday, any purchase made at a downtown business will be eligible for a chance to win a $50 or $100 gift certificate to spend at your favourite downtown establishment. Just take a picture of your receipt and send it to [email protected]. Any downtown purchase counts, even if you've just bought a coffee or visited your dentist. There's no minimum purchase and no limit on number of entries
• City Meat Market has organized a downtown scavenger hunt. Visit the following 16 businesses and collect a stamp, no purchase necessary. Then turn your ballot in at City Meat Market before Dec. 1 to win a prize pack valued at more than $500. Participating businesses include: Paint & Decor Concepts - Benjamin Moore, City Meat Market, Stonehouse Wines, + ADORO EVOO, Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site, Big Lake Cabin, Elliott's Ice Cream, That Fruit Place, Show Stoppers, Kidz 2 Kidz, Homespun Treasures, Camera Craft, Stork and Bundle, The Rad Zone, Broers Jansen, Tamar's Trends, Flower Shop, Games Nook II
• Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site is extending hours at its gift shop Thursdays and Fridays until 6 p.m. Each Thursday and Friday, they will feature a new gift item on sale for a discounted price. Sales of the much-anticipated Ermatinger chocolate bars will start Thursday