WENDELL - While town officials are making grand plans for bringing the Lake Myra Christmas light show into town in 2012, local merchants are bringing in the Christmas cheer this year.

The Wendell Merchants Association and Chamber of Commerce, now all part of the same organization, created new holiday events as part of Christmas in Wendell.

Stores in the downtown area along Main Street and part of Third Street have decorated their windows in holiday lights, and a few local merchants have decorated available shop windows.

“In a lot of the empty shops, other merchants in town are decorating the windows to make the downtown more inviting,” Merchants Association organizer Bob Wagner said.

“Even Paul (White) at the Chevy (dealership) has a Corvette with Santa and snow all around.”

Commissioner Ginna Gray told board members at the Nov. 28 town meeting the downtown group reached an agreement with Bruce Lynch, the building owner, to donate the former Little Bakery Café location at 4 N. Main St. for 45 days to use as a Candy Store.

The merchant group pulled together to open the Candy Store, which will operate Thursdays and Fridays from 4-8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Wagner said The Candy Shop will be run by volunteer staff with proceeds going into the merchant group/chamber of commerce fund for future projects.

“It’s an opportunity to create traffic in downtown. Families can come in, walk around and look at the (holiday decorations) downtown,” Gray said.

Chamber staff member Brigitte Gros organized a Chriskindel Market, which runs every afternoon into the evening at the farmer’s market. Gros said it is usually open until 8 or 9 p.m.

Gros created the market based on traditional holiday markets in Germany, where she grew up.

“We’ve got the Chriskindel Market for merchants to come into the farmer’s market,” Wagner said.

“Shoppers can find Christmas trees, wreaths, food and baked goods while live entertainment - choirs and bands - perform.”

‘It’s neat, we have music playing outside in the streets. Just about every one of the merchants are staying open late every Thursday – until 8 p.m.,” Wagner said.

The Candy Shop will also host Santa and Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus hosts a story time from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 16.

Santa will be there Dec. 10 from 10 a.m.until noon.

The downtown holiday attractions will also be a stop on the Dec. 17 candlelight tour of Wendell historic homes which runs from 3-8 p.m..

The chamber is also hosting a Christmas bazaar at the chamber office, hosted by the women who normally set up in the farmers market, selling jewelry, art, baked goods, fudge and preserves from 2-6 p.m.

The holiday attractions began the day after Thanksgiving and Wagner said he has seen more traffic downtown since then.

“We’re seeing a reaction. There’s more traffic in the evenings. And the public coming in to my store are saying they’ve been longing for this and not just during the holidays,” Wagner said.

Gros said the chamber, merchants and town worked hand-in-hand to make the Christmas in Wendell attractions possible.

“There is a lot of excitement. It is a positive to see the chamber work with the merchants and the town to get things done. There’s more unity than in the past,” Wagner said.

Gros said the Wendell Merchants Association intends to host a big attraction every month beginning in 2012.

Wagner said plans are under way for a pet day, another town-wide yard sale and an antique show.

“As we do (these events), they bring in traffic and spur interest and hopefully we will bring in more tenants,” Wagner said.