Lehi Family Week organizers started off the sixth annual celebration with a full house Sunday night.

More than 1,000 families attended the opening program at Lehi High School's south gym to hear motivational youth speaker John Bytheway speak.

For the Lehi Family Week Committee, it was a great way to kick off Family Week.

"It is going great," Connie Packer, committee spokesperson, said in a Monday phone interview. "Last night was wonderful. We had anticipated a big crowd, but it surpassed what we had planned. We were really grateful."

Johnny Barnes, as the Lehi Community Council chair, was the master of ceremonies at the event, introducing Bytheway who began the evening with a tribute to veterans and proceeded to share his kidney surgery story.

Those youth who arrived skeptical of an enjoyable Sunday night event including speaking were soon fighting belly laughs. Packer anticipates families, teenagers included, will continue to enjoy the week's activities.

"We feel like this week is going to be great because we have a lot of businesses who have been willing to participate and have things for families to do," Packer said.

Kara Buchanan, committee chair, agreed.

"This year the businesses were so generous to us," she said.

She said she wanted to thank especially Heather MIller and Linda Turner for helping coordinate holiday events this year.

Remaining activities for Family Week include Thanksgiving Point Day on Friday with a discounted admission of $2 per person to the Thanksgiving Point Farm from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and $2 off admission to Thanksgiving Point's holiday light tour.

Lehi Family Week will be capped off with the traditional free Family Dance at the Lehi Legacy Center, 123 N. Center St., from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday. Refreshments included.

"We have like over 600 prizes to be given away as parting gifts for supporting Family Week," Buchanan said. "Every goody bag has a silicon bracelet, candy and coupons."

There will be additional prizes awarded for dancing, Family Fun Card competitions and other activities.

Other Family Week events are discounted or are free with a Family Week Fun Card that can be downloaded from www.lehicity.com or are available at Lehi participating businesses.

NEWS BRIEFS

Community Sub-4-Santa begins -- Linda Turner and Traci Smith are coordinating the annual Lehi Sub-4-Santa and are looking for volunteers to help with the activity. They also need names and contact information of families who could benefit form a secret Santa. More information on the program is available at turlinda@gmail.com, bob.traci.smith@gmail.com or 768-1102 and ask for Linda Turner.

Crafts for Christmas -- Children, ages six and older, can make Native American necklaces using material from the earth as gifts at the Hutchings Museum, 55 N. Center St., Lehi. Preregistration costs $3 and the workshop is Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. They can also make copper Christmas tree ornaments on Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. Preregistration for this workshop is $3.50.

Chamber Christmas bash -- The Lehi Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Christmas Breakfast and Business Expo on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lehi Legacy Center, 123 N. Center St., Lehi. The public is invited and admission and most activities are free.

Santa Claus will be visiting and talking to children as they get their photos taken by Matt Papeke with Northlight Photography. Photos cost $8 for a 5x7 or $12 for two photos.

Breakfast -- sausage estrada, muffin, fruit and drink -- will be offered for $3 per person at the senior center in the Legacy Complex from 9-10:30 a.m.

Animal balloons, foam art jewelry, Christmas tree ornaments and various other activities will be offered at the Kids Korner as well as other Chamber-sponsored booth events.

This story appeared in North County on page A2.