When one door closes, another one opens. This could be the theme for 2020! We have all had plans that were put on hold this year. The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce is no different. We are disappointed to announce that the Annual Skate the Lake celebration will not happen this year. While the pandemic may have won this year, we are excited to announce a new program we are offering to the community called “A Storybook Holiday in Evergreen,” presented by Bryan Caldwell’s American Family Insurance Agency. This special event combines the nostalgia of classic holiday stories with the beauty and wonder of lit up ice sculptures placed throughout town. Santa will be reading four classic books fireside that will be broadcast on Fridays throughout the holidays on the Chamber website and Facebook page, and Rabbi Jamie stops in for a beautiful rendition of the Hanukkah story. Here’s the schedule of dates, but all stories can be accessed at evergreenchamber.org at any time after the initial release:

—December 4: “The Polar Express,” sponsored by RPM Agency

—December 10: “The Hanukkah Story,” sponsored by Bear Paw Painters

—December 11: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” sponsored by BW Mortgage LLC

—December 18: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” sponsored by AlphaPixel Reach

—December 24: “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” sponsored by Bergen Peak Realty

To add to the magic of the season, we are partnering with an international ice artist, Cool Hand Ice. He and his team carved our centerpiece ice art sculpture at the Stone House Visitor Center. This sculpture is a hearth, chimney, stockings, 10-foot Christmas tree and, of course, gifts under the tree. The stockings, gifts and ornaments are all made from ice. After completing our centerpiece ice sculpture, the team of sculptors carved the ice sculptures that are in place throughout town.