The North Pole Experience

  • Elves and reindeer dogs gathered to march with Santa through Pine Mountain Village Saturday, Dec. 15. In center, Mazie Lynn Underwood, 4 as 
Cindy LuLu from The Grinch movie. [Denise Nelson photo]

    Image 1 of 5
    Elves and reindeer dogs gathered to march with Santa through Pine Mountain Village Saturday, Dec. 15. In center, Mazie Lynn Underwood, 4 as Cindy LuLu from The Grinch movie. [Denise Nelson photo]

  • Elves and reindeer dogs gathered to march with Santa through Pine Mountain Village Saturday, Dec. 15.

    Image 2 of 5
    Elves and reindeer dogs gathered to march with Santa through Pine Mountain Village Saturday, Dec. 15.

  • But the Grinch showed up before Santa, threatening to steal Christmas.

    Image 3 of 5
    But the Grinch showed up before Santa, threatening to steal Christmas.

  • Boys with strong throwing arms and an arsenal of snow balls tamed the Grinch.

    Image 4 of 5
    Boys with strong throwing arms and an arsenal of snow balls tamed the Grinch.

  • Santa showed up to Pine Mountain Village on his North Pole Transit John Deer tractor sleigh. Ashley Bates had written him a letter. Santa took Ashley’s letter. She asked for a coloring book, markers and new mittens. Then all the elves marched with Santa to the village gazebo.

    Image 5 of 5
    Santa showed up to Pine Mountain Village on his North Pole Transit John Deer tractor sleigh. Ashley Bates had written him a letter. Santa took Ashley’s letter. She asked for a coloring book, markers and new mittens. Then all the elves marched with Santa to the village gazebo.

North Pole Productions and an army of small elves transformed Pine Mountain Village on Saturday, Dec. 15 with a lively day of magical events for North Pole Experience.

But the Grinch showed up before Santa arrived, intent on stealing Christmas

Little boys with strong throwing arms and an arsenal of snowballs tamed the green invader.

Santa showed up on his North Pole Transit John Deer tractor sleigh to Pine Mountain Village. Ashley Bates had written him a letter. Santa took Ashley’s letter. She asked for a coloring book, markers and new mittens. All the elves marched with Santa to the village gazebo.

Cookie decorating and a soup lunch were enjoyed at the Pine Mountain Christian Community Church. There was a Christmas piñata at La Leña Restaurant; Actor David Stenstrom frolicked through “The Twelve Days of Christmas” at Base Camp and there was a YesterYear Family Show at the PMC clubhouse.

It appears this may become a splendid new mountain "tradition."

The festivities were coordinated by Diana Chase (Pine Mountain Inn), Allie Jo Thomas Kowalski, and DJ "Merry Mike" Carlin Jones. Bob Clark and John Powell also played critical roles in the success of the day. Canned goods were collected at Pine Mountain General Store for a community food bank.

Photographers are Denise Nelson, Gunnar Kuepper, Diana Chase, Max Stenstrom and Patric Hedlund, with thanks to Elaine Salmon.

See the print edition of The Mountain Enterprise, on newsstands now throughout the mountain, for more fun photos.

–Notes by Patric Hedlund

This is part of the December 21, 2012 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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