After 18 years with Lodge leadership, Bigfork Elves are under new helm

Bigfork’s favorite Christmas tradition is changing hands this year.

After 18 years of doing the leg work for the Bigfork Elves, Flathead Lake Lodge has decided to pass on the organizational reins for Bigfork’s holiday decorations.

Michele Shapero is taking the helm this year as Chief Decorating Elf.

The Averills and Flathead Lake Lodge took over organizing the decorating about 18 years ago.

As the busy season for Flathead Lake Lodge has extended later into the fall, it’s become more difficult for the lodge staff to be utilized for the decorating, former Chief Decorating Elf Deb Kampsula said. 

“The Averills felt it was time for downtown businesses to take the initiative for creating a beautiful Christmas village,” Kampsula said. “After a busy season of nonstop activity at the lodge, the staff will take a short vacation which now conflicts with decorating time. The lodge and staff who remain in town will continue to help in any way possible. This should be a nice opportunity for the new businesses to get involved.”

Frank Crain, Don Thomson and Edd Blackler began the Bigfork Elves tradition in the 1970s.

Blackler said they passed the organization on to the lodge when Crain’s health began to fail.

In the early years of the Elves, Crain was the main organizer. As a retired member of the Air Force he conceived the titles, organizational structure and insignia on elf hats. 

“We called ourselves the Bigfork Elf Force,” Blackler said. 

The trio started the tradition with the simple idea that Bigfork could use some greenery in downtown around the holidays, Blackler said.

They went around town and talked to local businesses, recruited volunteers and the Bigfork Elves were born. “We just thought we’d give it a try,” Blackler said. “It just sort of built upon itself.”

Though the tradition has grown, eventually adding lights and bows, having trucks come in to help string high decorations and more people participating, Blackler said it has largely stayed the same.

“It’s been pretty consistent really,” he said.

Shapero said this year will be no different. The Ladies Service club will offer chili at the Bigfork Inn after decorating on Nov. 21, and the beverage cart will again be out and about to offer elves a warm drink. The only change will be the location for the pre-decorating day breakfast, which will be held at the Marina Cay on Nov. 14 at 8 a.m. After breakfast bows will be fluffed, lights will be checked, trees will be gathered and the decorations will generally be prepared for decorating day on Nov. 21 at 8 a.m.

“It takes a bit of organizing to get prepared for Decorating Day,” Kampsula said. “Each of the light strings must be checked for loose and broken bulbs and hundreds of trees are gathered to line the streets of Bigfork.” 

Businesses need to order garland for their storefronts through the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce by Nov. 2, and it needs to be paid for before its delivery date on Nov. 20.

Shapero said the elves are also still in the process of trying to replace the old lights with more energy efficient LED lights, and donations are welcome for that.

While the elves have traditionally focused on the downtown area of Bigfork, Shapero said if there are businesses along highway 35 that want to be decorated they are welcome to join in, by ordering garland and recruiting volunteers to help them decorate.

“People that are involved in those businesses need to be involved with the decorating,” she said. 

Though Blackler is no longer one of the lead organizers of the Bigfork Elves, he still participates each year, helping to decorate Bigfork’s single lane bridge. He said that when they started decorating Bigfork for the holiday’s he never imagined that it would turn into a Bigfork staple, but he’s glad it has.

“It’s been kind of a nice seasonal thing,” Blackler said. “The surprising thing, that I’ve noticed is the number of newbies every year. I’ve just been pleased with how it’s turned out to be a tradition that a lot of people have enjoyed, and it gives Bigfork a nice reputation of being a Christmas city in the Flathead.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the pre-decorating breakfast or donating funds can contact Shapero at 407-5748 or the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce.

Garland order forms and checks can be mailed to BACC, P.O. Box 237, Bigfork MT 59911, or order forms can be faxed to 837-5819, or they can be emailed to chamber@bigfork.org.

Garland delivery will still be between Streeter’s Corner and the Flathead Lake Lodge driveway and downtown Bigfork. Garlands are $25 for 25 feet and $50 for 50 feet.