TRACY DAUN, Niagara Area Emergency Unit EMT and organizer of the Niagara Christmas Village decorating contest, stands by the sign announcing the event. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

NIAGARA, Wis. — Niagara is getting into the holiday spirit with a new walk-through fundraising event that will take place at Heights Park.

The Niagara Christmas Village decorating contest will serve as a fundraiser for the Niagara Area Emergency Unit and other local charities.

Tracy Daun, rescue squad EMT, got the idea last December while driving back and forth to Crivitz, Wis., for EMT training.

“I kept seeing — in Wausaukee, Pembine — they had little tree decorations. I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a cute idea.’ I wondered if we could do something similar as a fundraising event and I expanded on that,” she said.

She decided to have 10-by-10-foot sites, rather than just trees, to let people use their imagination with decorations. “It was a way for people to raise money at the same time.”

Those who wish to participate pay $20 for each site. The money to purchase sites goes to the rescue squad. “With the rescue squad, we’re always looking for ways to do fundraisers,” she explained.

Those who purchase sites must designate a local charity. People can vote for their favorite sites, at $1 per vote, and raise money for those local charities. The site that receives the most votes will be deemed the winner. People from all communities are invited to take part.

“I like this idea because it wasn’t just a fundraiser for the rescue squad, it can be a fundraiser for any local charity. We have so many great local charities and organizations that need funds and deserve to be in the spotlight.”

There will be locked boxes for voting at City Hall and several businesses throughout the city. Daun plans to have a booklet at each voting box with pictures of all the sites. Pictures will also be posted on the Facebook page.

So far 10 organizations have registered, but she is prepared to have as many as 24. Those who wish to purchase a site can do so on the Niagara Christmas Village Facebook page, by email at NiagaraChristmasVillage@gmail.com or at City Hall by Monday.

After the deadline, she will be marking off the sites. Decorating will start on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Sites will be lit up on Dec. 6 at the community Christmas Tree lighting event, either prior to or after the tree lighting. They will be lit up each night until 10 p.m. through Jan. 11.