An estimated three to five thousand people braved a chilly Friday night on December 9th to enjoy the second annual Fremont Festival of Lights, sponsored by the Beaumont Business Association (BBA).
“We are thrilled with the huge turnout and wonderful support from people in our NE Portland neighborhoods,” said Dan Johnson, president of the BBA.
The highlight for many families was the visit from Santa, with well over 900 children getting their picture taken as each child shared their Christmas wish list while Mrs. Claus smiled and kept the procession moving smoothly.
“A popular new feature this year was the Shop Hop,” Johnson said, “with festival-goers visiting 12 participating shops along Fremont Street.”
Each participant got a card validated at each shop to become eligible for a drawing at the end of the festival. Winner of the $100 cash first prize was Brenna Giannini, who said she learned about the festival and Shop Hop on Facebook. “I really enjoyed going to all the lovely shops and being out with people on the street having such a good time,” Brenna said.
Second prize winner Carol Engeman, who received a huge gift basket valued at $500, came to the event after seeing the banner across Fremont a week earlier. “I had planned to go to Seattle to meet my daughters who were returning from Africa, but they were delayed so I came to the festival, and it was so much fun,” Carol exclaimed.
Johnson lauded Rebecca Lehman, the event chair, and his fellow board members and volunteers, including students from Grant High School, for making the festival a success.
“We are already planning for next year,” Johnson said, “and we intend to make the Festival of Lights a cherished tradition for our NE Portland neighborhoods.”