The Superior Express -

For Superior merchants and many area residents, the Friday after Thanksgiving marks the traditional start of the Christmas holiday shopping season.

Superior merchants are hoping their pre-holiday sales will help make up for what thus far has been a lackluster year.

This year the merchants have had to adjust their plans to accommodate an unwelcome visitor, COVID-19.

This year Superior will have new Christmas decorations on the Central Avenue light poles. The snowflake designs were ordered for last year but did not arrive in time. This year they are up and will be turned on for the first time at 5:15 Friday afternoon. Visitors coming downtown to see the lights turned on are being asked to do so by 5 p.m. wear masks and be sure to social distance. Several stores have had Christmas scenes painted on their windows,

After the lights are turned on, area residents are invited to join in a Christmas Cruise which will depart from Fourth and Central. Participants will cruise down Central Avenue and around the square before departing for Lincoln Park to see Candy Cane Lane on opening night.

Volunteers have been working for several weeks to make sure this, the 18th year for the colorful Christmas lighting show, will be among the best. Because of COVID-19, the scout cabin will not be open and horsedrawn wagon rides will not be offered. That doesn’t mean Candy Cane Lane will be old and boring. Among the new features will be Santa’s mail box.

Many years the retailers’ promotion has included opportunities for the youngsters to visit Santa Claus and have their picture taken. Because of COVID, Santa will not be coming to town this year but Main Street Floral is one of his many special mail drop off locations and plans are to answer letters written to Santa.

This year will have a new twist. There will be a decorated vintage pickup truck parked in the National Street parking lot and a professional photographer will be present to take open-air family portraits. Pictures are scheduled between 2 and 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Appointments are not necessary.

Like in past years, the Superior Bucks promotion launched earlier this month. Shoppers receive an entry form every time they visit a participating Superior store. On Monday mornings, names are drawn and prizes awarded. Additional bucks may be purchased at the chamber of commerce office and used as Christmas gifts.