Moonlight madness and Santa Claus night kicks off the holiday season in Maidstone every year.
The event held, the first Friday of December, is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and encourages community members to shop locally, get together and visit and support local organizations.
The C.E. wing at the United Church was a busy place offering their traditional turkey soup, hot dog and pie supper and a silent auction.
The school community council sponsored horse and wagon rides starting off at the high school and the Grade 12 class offered free babysitting and fun for the children.
The Maidstone Ambulance Service members sold real Christmas trees on Main Street and the bowling alley offered fun on the lanes.
The tree in front of the arena was lit and the Legion Hall filled when it was time to draw the name for the Santa gift tree. Brenda Hult was the lucky winner, stripping the tree of $280 in gift certificates from local businesses in only 30 seconds.
There were market tables set up in the hall and SADD members sold hot chocolate and tickets on their iPad raffle.
The elementary school choir welcomed the crowd and Santa with carols and the man in the red suit took his time visiting with many of the community's little ones posing for photographs and finding out what was on this year's Christmas lists.
