Santa's visit gets Powell ready for the Holidays {gallery}12_02_08/santa{/gallery}Santa winces with pain as little Levi Brady, 5 months, grabs a handful of his fluffy, white whiskers. Levi was one of more than 100 children who took turns getting their pictures taken with Santa after he arrived in a helicopter on Friday. Older children made sure to tell Santa what they hoped to find under their Christmas trees and in their stockings on Christmas morning. Tribune photo by Ilene Olson It's Country Christmas time in Powell this weekend.The annual celebration begins Friday evening with a performance of “It's a Wonderful Life” at Northwest College and ends with the annual Tour of Homes Sunday afternoon. In between, there will be a free movie for kids and plenty of shopping and entertainment available downtown.

“It's a Wonderful Life,” adapted from the classic 1940s film, will take the stage at the Northwest College Nelson Performing Arts Auditorium Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The play features a cast and crew of NWC students and community members of all ages.

Friday's performance is preceded by Christmas caroling by the NWC choirs outside the auditorium and during intermission, and hot chocolate and cookies will be served in the lobby.

On Saturday, Vali Cinema has scheduled a free matinee, “Space Chimps,” for kids at 1 p.m. Tickets may be picked up at stores downtown beginning Thursday.

A variety of musical entertainment is scheduled at The Commons during the day Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m., featuring Forty Fabulous Fingers, four keyboard players from Lovell playing on two keyboards. Other entertainment will be offered by NWC instrumental ensembles, the Sunlight String Quartet, local guitarist George Miller and EROCNE, the Powell High School jazz group.

Santa will visit The Commons from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Down the street at Plaza Diane, entertainment will feature clogging by Stomp & Company and Absaroka Mountain Cloggers and ice-carving demonstrations by Christy Muecke, the Chainsaw Chick. Northwest College international students will share their cultures' festivities during Holidays Around the World at 2:30 p.m.

While at The Commons, shoppers can stop by the Country Christmas booth and help decorate two Christmas trees, with ornaments brought from home or purchased at the booth. Decorators also are welcome to place money on the tree. The trees will be given to needy families identified with the help of the Wyoming Department of Family Services.

At Homesteader Museum, Beryl Churchill and Bob Bonner, authors of Powell's Centennial book, will be on hand from 10 a.m.-noon to sign copies of their book.

Saturday's activities conclude with the annual Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m.

The weekend concludes with the Country Christmas Tour of Homes from 1-5 p.m. Sunday.