If you’re not standing on the corner in downtown Austin tonight at 6 p.

Friday, November 26, 1999

If you’re not standing on the corner in downtown Austin tonight at 6 p.m. you’re in big trouble.

That’s when the 1999 Christmas in the City celebration begins.

Santa Claus will have the honor of throwing the switch to officially turn on the lights for the Christmas holiday season with help from the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. The lighting ceremony will take place on the west lawn of the Mower County government center near the corner of North Main St. and 2nd Ave.

Then the evening will be full of happy events for families.

There will be free sleigh rides along North Main Street and strolling elves passing out popcorn balls.

The Jim Jayes Marionette Show sponsored by the Austin Downtown Association will welcome visitors at the Town Center.

Face-painting by actors in the Matchbox Theatre will be located at Farmers and Merchants State Bank.

The ecumenical bell choir will perform in concert at the Paramount Theatre.

Taylor Carlson, Miss Austin of 1999, will also perform at the Paramount Theatre, where Mark Bliese will provide sound.

The Austin String Quartet will entertain at the Town Center as well as the Austin Brass Quartet.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will greet children in the lower level of the Town Center and distribute candy canes.

Most local businesses in the downtown area will be holding open houses.

New this year is a Walking Art Tour by the Austin Art Group.

Tom Bridges of SoundTronics Productions will provide appropriate Christmas music along North Main Street.

Belles and Beaus will have models in its display windows and hot cider and cookies inside.

Salvation Army Austin Corps volunteer bell ringers will remind all of the real reason for the season.

Saturday’s schedule includes the Festival of Wreaths fund-raiser at the Paramount Theatre beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The 11th annual Christmas in the City schedule of events continues Thursday with Christmas Crafts at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, 6-9 p.m. The cost is $15 and preregistration is necessary. Call 437-4566 for more information about candle dipping and wreath making instructions.

Sterling State Bank of Austin hosts a Christmas open house Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with coffee, cider, cookies and prize drawings.

Shoppers will also want to visit Gretchen’s and Farmers and Merchants State Bank in the downtown area, where luminaries made by children and used by the Salvation Army Austin Corps for their Christmas holiday baskets for the needy will be displayed.

Fellowship United Methodist Church has a related event sure to please everyone. Church members invite holiday shoppers to "leave the baking to us" and visit their Christmas bake sale Dec. 4, 9-11 a.m. at 1811 7th Ave. SE.