Tree unveiling planned Nov. 24
What’s being billed as the world’s largest living Christmas tree will be unveiled during the Thanksgiving weekend premiere of the Holiday Light Show at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
The 161-foot-tall tree will be decorated with more than 30,000 lights. The grand fir overlooks Lake Coeur d’Alene from the shoreline home of Duane Hagadone, who founded the resort in 1986. The Hagadone Corp. has hosted the light show since 1996.
“We wanted to do something extraordinary this year,” said Jerry Jaeger, resort president and co-owner, in a press release Thursday. “Lighting this magnificent tree for the holidays seemed like the perfect way to wrap up our 20th year.”
The Holiday Light Show lighting ceremony is planned for Nov. 24. The light show includes more than 1.5 million lights and 250 displays.
The show features a parade, fireworks, sleigh rides, special shows and decorative lighting around town through the holidays.
The 120-year-old tree – more than twice as tall as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City – will be decorated with energy-efficient LED lights and topped with a 10-foot star.
– Staff reports
Institute to host reception, auction
The Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene will close its “Anne Frank – A Private Photo Album” exhibit and monthlong series of events with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 16.
The reception will feature dinner, live music, an auction and a door prize.
Auction items include a guided fly-fishing trip, a cocktail cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene and dinner for eight at a private home prepared by Bonsai chef Tony Chandler.
The reception will be the last opportunity to view the Anne Frank exhibit, on loan from The Anne Frank Center USA in New York City. It includes 70 black-and-white photos taken by Otto Frank of his daughters, Anne and Margot, before they were killed in the Holocaust.
The exhibit, open Monday through Saturday, is being viewed by every eighth-grade class in school districts 271 and 273.
Tickets for the reception cost $30. Youth and students get in free.
The Human Rights Education Institute is in the northeast corner of City Park. For information, call (208) 292-2359.
– Staff reports
Athol
Park collects cash for Wishing Star
This year, the train robbers at Silverwood Theme Park got away with some big-time loot.
As they have for several years, visitors to Silverwood were confronted by the faux robbers while riding the park’s old No. 7 steam engine train.
This season, the burglars ended their skit by passing the hat for the Wishing Star Foundation. More than $10,000 was raised.
Silverwood will present a check to the Wishing Star Foundation at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the main entrance of Kootenai Medical Center. The hospital is home to many children who benefit from the foundation.
Silverwood’s resident magician, Nick Norton, will appear at the event, as will Garfield, the park’s mascot.
– Staff reports