BLIZZARD BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER TO LIBRARY PARK
LAKEPORT >> Even though the temperature was only 48 degrees Fahrenheit, a blizzard fluttered down from the gazebo in Library Park. The first annual event consisting of three blizzards took place on Saturday. My Divas, the a cappella group made up of Marie Schrader, Barbara Clark, Jo Fay, Susan Yeagan and Laura Sammel, sang Christmas carols on stage in the decorated gazebo.
Schrader, executive director of Lakeport Main Street Association said, “I got the approval for the event from the City of Lakeport last Friday. I started advertising it on Facebook on Saturday and started decorating the Gazebo on Monday.”
A small group that included Robert Boccabella, Becky Vreeland, John Tyson and the Lakeport Public
Works Department decorated the gazebo. Schrader said, “The Christmas trees on the gazebo are old decorations that used to be on the lamp posts in Lakeport. We found them in the basement of the Bicoastal Media Station where my ‘office’ is. They hadn’t been used for at
least 15 years. We took them out and replaced light bulbs. I found the wreaths there along with all the lights. The Public Works Department put them up for me.”
California RampWorks, owned by John Tyson a fireman with the Lakeport Fire Department, provided all the equipment; lights, sound equipment and the snow machines.
The Lakeport Fire Department provided the hot chocolate and came with sirens blaring, although Santa wasn’t with them this blizzard as he was busy, said Schrader, wrapping gifts and getting his sleigh in top shape.
Carrie and Randy Schmitt, with son Noah, 7, were in the crowd of approximately 200. Noah said, “I think this is amazing. I like all the carols and am waiting for the snow.” When he finished saying that, the blizzard happened. His face lit up and he rushed toward the gazebo.
Robert Boccabella, president of LSMA, was giggling with excitement as he took photos of the snow. “Lakeport hasn’t seen anything yet! We’re just getting started.”
Watching the snow fall on the crowd, Schrader, dressed in her My Diva outfit, said, “This is pretty amazing. It was fun pulling it all together…in five days, and the turnout is super.”
Among the cheering crowd, Kurt Combs, a retired community college counselor said, “I love watching the kids running into the snow. It’s great to see people in downtown.”
Iuliana Galvin with husband Benjamin and their two daughters sipped hot chocolate. Their mother said when the event was over, “It was fun. It looked like real snow. I loved the music. It looked like an enchanted town for a bit.”
Benjamin Gavin said, “I thought it was really nice. Nice that Lakeport Main Street Association put it on. It was small town awesomeness.”
The event lasted 30 minutes. Some people wished it had lasted longer, but as Schrader explained, “It was meant to be 30 minutes, so that people would visit our businesses.”
And visit they did. Sweet Peas Ice Cream shop was packed with the Blizzard crowd. Schrader said, with a big grin on her face framed by her Dickens-style bonnet, “Families
were walking around town and in shops. Every store that was open had people in it. When people see what we did tonight, the word will spread and people will come. It’s all to help our businesses and our town!”
Lakeport Blizzard was put on by the Lakeport Main Street Association, and sponsored by Strong
Financial Network, Hillside Powersports, Guerrero Brothers Auto Body, Dr. Mark Buehnerkemper OD, Hannah Wright Realtor-Associate, and Skylark Shores Resort.
The next Lakeport Blizzards take place December 23 and 24 at 6 P.M.
Visit www.Lakeportmainstreet.com to check upcoming events.