By Bob Groeneveld/Special to the 91原创 Advance

Brookswood merchants are opening a window to Christmas鈥� lots of windows, in fact.

And they鈥檙e inviting the community to come out and pick the best one.

A window decorating contest, with the best windows chosen by the public, will be just one of a number of activities and Christmassy happenings at this year鈥檚 Brookswood Village Night of Lights being presented by the Brookswood Merchants Association (BMA) 5:30 to 7 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 8.

鈥淭he windows will be done up before the night, but it鈥檚 on that night that you can vote,鈥� said Emma Stewart of the BMA.

鈥淎nd we鈥檒l be featuring each window on our as well, to give people more access to them, because you don鈥檛 go to all the businesses all the time.鈥�

Stewart said Elsa, Disney鈥檚 Frozen princess, is being added to this year鈥檚 line-up.

鈥淪he is going to be having her own area if it鈥檚 raining, or walk around if it鈥檚 not, to meet the kids and sign autographs, We really think that will be a big draw for the kids. Kids go nuts for these characters.鈥�

Elsa will plug in the lights to the big Christmas tree at Super Save Gas at 6:30 p.m.

鈥淪uper Save already has the lights, and they string them for us and provide that every year,鈥� said Stewart.

鈥淲e鈥檒l plug in the lights for the first time that night, and then every dawn to dusk they鈥檒l come on automatically for the rest of the month.鈥�

Along with the addition of Elsa, Santa Paws will be back at PetFude.ca and Rustic Roots Health Food, near the Buy Low grocery store, this year.

鈥淟ast year he was a big draw for all the kids to take their picture with Santa Paws,鈥� said Stewart.

Stewart and her Re/Max Treeland Realty partner Lisa Yasuda will have their pickup truck on hand to Fill the Truck for charity.

鈥� My partner and I are doing a Fill the Truck, and that seems to be pretty popular when we鈥檙e going around talking to people and about that, just to bring out new or gently used warm blankets and clothes and all that,鈥� Stewart said.

鈥淭he idea is that we鈥檙e going to fill our truck with donations. It鈥檚 a good way that people can give back and also have some fun.鈥�

The BMA is also encouraging people to bring food bank donations.

Hot chocolate will be provided, courtesy of the Brookswood Liquor Store and by the 91原创 Advance, Cedarbrook Bakery is bringing cookies to the party, and the 91原创 Elks are providing popcorn.

In addition to offering photos with Santa Paws, PetFude.ca will help kids make pine cone Christmas ornaments.

Brennan鈥檚 Ladies鈥� and Men鈥檚 Wear will have ornaments and a giveaway for those helping to decorate the tree.

This is one of two annual events put on by the Brookswood merchants. The BMA also puts on Summerfest in the middle of June each year.