Image from downtownmedicinehat.com

By Chantal Wagner

It's a go!

Christmas spirit in downtown Medicine Hat with Midnight Madness on Friday

Nov 19, 2020 | 10:28 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Midnight Madness is a go for Friday, November 20.

The annual launch of the Christmas shopping season for Medicine Hat will be in full swing, but like many events, it will look a little different this year.

City Centre Development Agency (CCDA) Chair Jeremy Silver says they have taken many precautions to follow physical distancing and public health protocols.

The opening ceremony with the tree lighting will still take place at 6 pm. It will be live-streamed on the CCDA Facebook page for those who cannot attend.

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And most businesses will be participating again this year.

“We have very good feedback from the majority of the downtown business owners where everybody is a little bit concerned but it’s individualistic depending on the business, and I’m sure they can regulate that, and I trust their judgment,” Silver said.

A major change is that the day will start at 1 pm this year, instead of 6 pm, to give people extra time to shop and not crowd the stores.

Silver says Midnight Madness is more than just shopping, it’s the community spirit.

“It was a tough decision it really was to decide do we want to cancel this event and take away downtown’s busiest shopping day of the year for safety reasons, at the same time business owners, have never been suffering more in the years that I have been with the CCDA. It was a tough compromise, but I like to think we found a very good balance between safety and not starving our downtown business owners.”

Monarch Theatre is also showing the free movie “Beethoven” it will be spread out over three different showtimes, which are first come first serve.

Silver adds they’ve heard from residents that they are excited to come down and enjoy Midnight Madness.

“People have been deprived of so many of the things that they love this year. Midnight Madness is more than just shopping it’s the community spirit, it’s being out with other people from the community and enjoying Christmas. It’s the launch of the Christmas shopping season for Medicine Hat and there’s so much more to it than just shopping.”

Santa Claus will make two appearances at BATUS Park, one from 2-4 p.m. and again from 6-8 p.m. Physical distance measures will be in place but children will be able to get a photo with the big guy, who will be in the back of a pickup truck.

Midnight Madness details (CCDA Facebook)