SAFFORD — Merry Main Street kicked off the holiday season in the Gila Valley bigger than ever.
Thousands made their way to Safford’s Downtown to watch Kevin Johnson, with Ponderosa Aviation, flip the switch to light the tree on the lawn of Safford’s City Hall, the first of Merry Main Street’s numerous activities on the night.
Children used inner tubes to slide down the mountains of snow created by Ice King, or enjoyed the numerous bounce houses, obstacle courses and other inflatable activities.
The GRWC Woman’s Club and Rustic Barn Bakery hosted a new event this year — the pie eating contest.
Zion Granados, who won the teen division, said he joined at the urging of his girlfriend. After his win, he tried to get her back by having her participate in the karaoke contest, but she wasn’t interested.
“I love you enough to come and eat pie in front everybody, you should love me enough to go sing. Oh, you don’t?” Granados said.
Pie-eating wasn’t the only contest on the evening. Roycycled Treasures sponsored the Ugly Sweater contest; a Cornhole Skills contest was sponsored by the Graham County Chamber of Commerce; The Gingerbread House contest was sponsored by Keyhole Properties, The Venue and the Vignette on Main; children’s karaoke took place on the Kempton Chevrolet Stage; and the Coloring contest was sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club of the Gila Valley.
The Safford Downtown Association brought Santa to the historic Safford Theatre to hear the wishes of good boys and girls, and more than 800 attendees made free s’mores thanks to Copper & Cotton Lifestyle Co.
Title sponsor for the tree lighting was Freeport-McMoRan, while Ponderosa Aviation was the title sponsor for Merry Main Street. Additional sponsors included Sunzia, Pattern Energy, CMI Quick Copy, The City of Safford, Graham County Chamber of Commerce and the Safford Downtown Association.
