Those attending Brownstown Elementary School's second Passport to Christmas program on Monday night were treated with a host of holiday decorations including these at the entrance to the school.

BROWNSTOWN -- The hallways of Brownstown Elementary School are generally a beehive of activity throughout each busy day of the school year.

On Monday night they became much busier as many of the school's more than 600 students returned with parents, grandparents, other family members and friends to share in some holiday fun -- and take a shot at a winning a prize at the same time.

The prizes were donated by local businesses and individuals and were given away as part of the school's Passport to Christmas program.

That program came about in 2023 when staff came together and decided to try to come up with an event to get parents into the school, Principal Marty Young said.

"We didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into, so we started a committee and they came up with the Passport to Christmas," he said. "The teachers just took it and ran with it. They developed everything."

Young estimated that somewhere between 60% and 70% percent of the students attended the 2023 event and that hope was that more attended Monday night.

"It was just amazing," he said of the attendance that first year.

Young said each grade level came up with a theme and decorated their areas accordingly. Common areas including the lobby and hallways also were decorated for the holidays.

The students who attended the event received a passport and visited different areas to get those [passports stamped making them eligible for the prize drawing.

A lengthy line form at the front doors of the school before the program started at 5:30 p.m.

"I am looking forward to it," Kim Blaylock said as she and her grandson, Rocky Drake, waited patiently for the doors to open.

Drake, who is a third grader and eight, said he likes walking through the building and seeing all the lights and decorations.

"I think it's very nice," said Kristian Crossman of Brownstown who also attended the first Passport to Christmas a year ago with her daughter, Arya Crossman,

Fourth grader Coltlynn Ray, 9, said she thought the Passport program was really cool as she was taking a break from collecting stamps.

Mary Jane Steinkamp, a Title 1 reading teacher, said she loved helping decorating for the Passport to Christmas program.

"This is our second year doing this and it takes about two weeks to get it all together," she said. "It's so fun to see the kids enjoy it."