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Santa Claus seemed to be everywhere Saturday. Kids and adults alike sat on his lap at McGowan's Grocery in the morning and at Ripples Ice Cream Parlor in the afternoon. People lined Railroad Street shortly after noon to see Kris Kringle waving from an old fire engine in the annual parade through town.

Around 100 kids and adults, which included Plains Police Officer Ethan Harvey, Sanders County Deputy Rob Largent, and 94-year-old Betty Meyer, meet with Santa Claus, aka Montana Highway Patrolman Steve Spurr, during the 2nd Annual Plains Christmas Extravaganza, which had activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from one end of town to the other in downtown Plains. The first 50 kids with Santa received free photo cards.

"Hopefully, it will become a tradition where people will look forward to it and expect it," said Erika Lawyer, who organized this year's extravaganza with Whitney Tanner-Spurr and Briana Rivinius.

Rivinius, owner of Hello Sweetness Designs, made wooden Christmas tree ornaments that the kids could rub on Christmas stickers. Sixty-six kids between the ages of 1-14 decorated ornaments at her main street shop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ed Moreth

GET AWAY – Plains resident Colton Davis, 2 (left), throws a punch at the Mangy Moose mascot, aka Steve Hardy, during the Plains Christmas Extravaganza Saturday.

Tanner-Spurr started the extravaganza last year, but it was a slow beginning with only three entries in the parade, including Santa. There were six units in this year's parade, led by the VFW Post 3596 color guard. The parade had three fire trucks, a hayride of carolers, and a float from Quinn's Hot Springs Resort, the only business float in the parade. It lasted only 15 minutes, but some 75 people lined Railroad Street to watch it go by.

"We had such a great turnout for the parade. It was so special to see so many people out and about enjoying and supporting our little community," said Tanner-Spurr. "I think with a little more advertisement, next year will be even better," said Tanner-Spurr, who added that the goal is to have more businesses, clubs and organizations be in the parade.

For the second year, the Mangy Moose Mercantile served free homemade chili and cornbread to people in the front of the store as part of Customer Appreciation Day. Tamisha Hardy gave out seven gallons of chili in three hours while her husband, Steve, greeted visitors in a moose costume.