ABOVE: Some representatives of participating businesses hold baskets, with items valued at $100, that they will be giving away in a drawing this coming Friday night during Merry & Bright on Downtown Plaza in Fairmont. From left: Alexandra Hurney of Fairmont Brewing Company, Shaina Scheppmann of Jake’s Pizza, Jenn Streit of D & S Trophies (holding a basket from Pierce Accounting), Sara Cyphers of D & S Trophies, Kim White of Fairmont Awards and DeAnn Eversman of Dee’s Floral.

FAIRMONT– Downtown businesses are preparing for one of their busiest and brightest nights of the year. Merry & Bright, formerly known as Holiday Delights, has been growing a little bit each year to turn into more than just a night of shopping, but an event that entire families can really enjoy. It’s happening this Friday beginning at 5 p.m. on Downtown Plaza in Fairmont.

Sara Cyphers, owner of D & S Trophies and an organizer of the event, said that planning for Merry & Bright really starts in the summer because of all of the coordination that happens.

As part of the prep work, Citizen’s Park was recently decorated by some of the downtown businesses, which have been doing it for the past few years. Most notable perhaps are the Winter cutouts painted by Milah Howlett.

This year there was a little extra to coordinate with the city as for the first time in the event’s history, 2nd Street is being blocked off to make room for some live reindeer.

There have been reindeer in the past few years but Cyphers explained that this year two are coming and will be in front of Citizen’s Park from 6 to 8 p.m.

“The Sheriff’s Department has donated their light trailer to us to light up the street so there will be good photo opportunities,” Cyphers said.

Whereas Cyphers alone funded the reindeer’s trip to Fairmont in the past, this year they were sponsored by several local businesses.

In addition to the reindeer, there will be hay rides by Rick DeBoer, which is sponsored by DeAnn Eversman of Dee’s Floral.

Carolers from Shepherd of the Lakes will be going around, as will Santa and Mrs. Claus and possibly some elves.

Once again this year there’s going to be a medallion hunt. The person who finds the medallion will be given $200 in Downtown Bucks. Clues will be posted inside Dee’s Floral every half hour.

“If they find it they bring it back here and get the Downtown Dollars to use at participating stores,” Eversman said.

All downtown businesses have been invited to participate and many are staying open late and will be offering various deals throughout the night and some will also have refreshments or other surprises in store.

Several of the businesses are also giving away a basket with items totaling $100.

At the conclusion of the night, at 9:15 p.m., those who put their name in the basket drawings are asked to go to the American Legion at 300 Downtown Plaza, where the winners will be announced. You must be present to win.

Merry & Bright continues to prove to be one of the best shopping days of the year for the downtown retailers.

“They want the bargains and you can’t blame them with how prices are right now,” said Eversman.

It also serves as something fun for families, which is becoming more apparent year after year.

“When my grandparents first moved the store down here, it used to be really family-oriented with mini golf and then it kind of went away from that and was more of a ladies’ shopping night,” Cyphers explained. “We’re going back to the family-friendly by adding the hay rides and Santa being down here.”

They hope that this year, with a fairly mild forecast for December, the community will once again show up to take advantage of late-night shopping and some fun offerings.