Will the COVID Grinch let us have a normal tree-lighting ceremony?

The City of Sault Ste. Marie, PUC and the Downtown Association are once again scheming to light up Queen Street for the 2021 Moonlight Magic and tree-lighting.

Paul Scornaienchi from Ergo Office Plus is hoping it will be "just like it was last year."

"If everybody recollects, we had the LOVE sign and we had all those wonderful lights... It was a great dynamic thing."

"We'll have more detail with what that is going to look like," Scornaienchi told a meeting of the Downtown Association board this week.

"We do know that Algoma Public Health has restrictions. We're not very concerned with the restrictions. They're a whole lot looser than they were last year."

"We'll paint that picture as to whether there's going to be an exact time by which the tree will be lit or whether it's going to be lit incognito."

"We'll know what that's going to look like closer to the Nov. 18 date."

"The Public Utilities Commission once again has dug deep into their pockets to make this another great, dynamic season here in our downtown," Scornaienchi said.

Officials are trying to pull together a contest to ensure every downtown storefront and building is gloriously lit for the season.

Lights may be available for lending to businesses that don't have the funds to afford them.

"It doesn't have to be complicated or big, but If it were everybody, it would really make a big statement as to how we're supporting our community."

As SooToday reported earlier this week, the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie is still considering a Santa Claus parade, although it could be a drive-past event, possibly with floats parked around the perimeter of the future downtown plaza.

There are also discussions about extending special holiday lighting on the Paul Mall and Outspoken alleyways year-round, "for the next 100 years," Scornaienchi said.

"What we're thinking of doing is lighting the alleyways up quite simply."

It would be a simple lit canopy with the Downtown Association paying the electrical bill.

"That canopy could be changed to be different colours: red and white at Christmas time, yellow at Easter, red on Valentine's Day," he said.