Downtown Quincy’s streets and sidewalks were packed with an estimated 4,000 holiday celebrators during the 23rd annual Sparkle event Friday, Dec. 7.

  The event was sponsored by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, and included a host of entertaining events.

  Numerous Quincy merchants kept their stores open late and served revelers tasty goodies and delicious drinks.

  Street musicians played instruments ranging from bagpipes to clarinets, guitars and a tuba-violin-trumpet trio as strollers made their way down the crowded sidewalks.

  Main events occurred at the county courthouse plaza where emcee Will Taylor introduced performers and narrated the show.

  Talented young performers from Plumas Christian School sang a number of holiday songs under the direction of Eliza Harding and Natalie Kepple.

  Eileen Cox’s Footloose Community Performance Group danced their way through several numbers, bedecked with Santa hats and matching outfits.

  The truckers’ light parade made two circuits, starting at Plumas Motor Supply, delivering Santa and Quincy schools’ bands and choirs to the courthouse before continuing along Main Street and then looping around a second time.

  Thousands of revelers watched as decorated fire trucks, tow trucks, Forest Service trucks, flatbed trailers and others lit up the streets with their holiday décor.

  Groups such as the QHS cheer team and Johnsville ski team, accompanied by the abominable snowman, rode cheerfully in the cold night.

  Vendors of all stripes sold everything from wreaths and baked goods to tri-tip sandwiches and clam chowder bowls.

  Caller Leslie Mink led a contra dance in front of the courthouse. Young and old alike followed along, swinging their neighbors and promenading their partners to the live music played by Kenny Davis and friends.

  Quincy’s musically inclined students combined to sing several songs, accompanied by Judy Wright on piano and directed by music teacher Tanner Johns.

  A reading of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Hailey Murphy and Riley Gamberg came right before Johnny Walker played “Silent Night” on harmonica.

  The grand finale was the countdown and lighting of the tree on the courthouse lawn at 7 p.m.

  Merchants hosted their “open houses” for an hour or two more while the crowd milled about and slowly made their way along sidewalks crowded with families and friends.

  It was another successful evening with possibly the biggest crowd ever, according to chamber board member Cheryl Kolb.