WINONA, Minn. – Downtown merchants and townspeople mingled at the ceremonial lighting of the new Christmas tree at Peter’s Biergarten on Third Street. Santa was there. So was free hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and cookies. As they say: A good time was had by all, albeit a bit nippy. Ben Strand, Winona Main Street Program director, said the tree with 750 to 1,000 lights will be on at dusk daily for five or six hours through December.
Mission accomplished. Southeast Tech welding and trucking students pose with their baby – a 16-foot tree framework that, if plans go well, will become a long-term downtown holiday feature. Garlands and lights were installed later.