Second annual Winter Wonderland kicks off the Christmas season in Lincoln

 

[November 30, 2020] 

On Friday evening members of the community came out for the official kick-off to Christmas in downtown Lincoln. The season began with the second annual Winter Wonderland Tree Lighting led by organizer Kathie Williams.

To protect the community from possible exposure to the coronavirus, this year was done a little differently. Williams had sought and received permission from the city of Lincoln to close Kickapoo Street on the west side of the Logan County Courthouse for the period of time that it would take to hold the ceremony.

Visitors to the ceremony were asked to social distance from others, and encouraged to remain in their household groups and wear face masks. While not all wore the face masks, everyone did adhere to social distancing during the ceremony.

Also different this year was the number of trees included in the Winter Wonderland and their placement on the Logan County Courthouse lawn. This year, there were more than 60 trees, up by about 20 compared to 2019. Instead of having the trees lining all the sidewalks on the west lawn, they were set up only to line the outside borders of the lawn on all four sides.

Guests were encouraged to view the trees from the main exterior sidewalk around the courthouse, and of course observe social distancing as they make the trek around the square.

The ceremony began with Williams, Lincoln Acting Mayor Tracy Welch and wife Annette, and Morgan Gleason of the Logan County Tourism Bureau offering some comments while standing at the base of the courthouse steps on the west lawn.

Williams began by asking those in attendance to observe a moment of silence for our loved ones who are not with us this year.

She then went on to address the group, thanking all who had come out and encouraging everyone to enjoy the trees after the lighting.

She expressed appreciation to the Logan County Board for permitting the placement of the trees, to Lincoln’s Up in Smoke organization for use of their electric terminals, to the city of Lincoln for permitting the street closure, and on through to those who had helped install the trees, the family members who had stepped up and helped with her shop while she helped with the installation, and to Gleason who had worked with her to organize the event and generally help out whenever called upon. She sent out a special thank you to her husband Jim who had helped her in so many ways throughout the process, including spearheading the installation of the trees and stringing of electric cords and much more.

Welch also spoke, thanking Williams for all the work put into the Winter Wonderland event and wishing all a happy holiday season.

Thanks were also expressed to all who had purchased and decorated a tree.

Then Williams led the countdown to the lighting. When the trees were lit, the entire courthouse lawn glowed with the colors of Christmas and there were many happy faces as guests toured the square checking out all the trees.

After the lighting, Williams took a stroll around the square to check out all the trees in their lighted state.

She commented that this year the actual ceremony had felt a little odd. She said that looking out on the people gathered on Kickapoo Street, she was concerned about there being a lack of interest this year. She had made that comment to someone who promptly told her that this was a much larger crowd than last year, but the difference was that everyone was spread out. Indeed, instead of gathering on Kickapoo Street, many of the guests had gone to stand in front of the tree they had purchased, anxious to see how good it looked when the lights came on.

The trees this year featured so much beauty, talent, and imagination. Lighted, the glow cast light and shadow around the square, and cast beautiful light on the many ornaments and decorations on the individual trees.

At 6 p.m. Red Gate Farms arrived with their horses and carriage for an evening of giving free rides around the square. The line for the carriage ride grew quickly as many visitors to the lighting ceremony recognized that a free ride around the square would be the perfect way to view all the trees in a short amount of time.

Red Gate offered a lovely white covered carriage drawn by two black horses.

The rides this year are also being conducted a bit differently from past years. The horses are stopped on Pulaski Street across from the Arcade building. New passengers board the carriage from the arcade side. When exiting, passengers depart on the courthouse side. Upon exiting they were provided with a hand sanitizing station and encouraged to use it before moving away from the ride.

While waiting for their turn in the wagon, passengers also had the opportunity to purchase sweet treats and hot beverages from Top Hat Creamery. The Traveling Top Hat owner Lisa Mestinsek was selling a variety of items throughout the evening.

The night proved to be a very nice and fun way to kick off Christmas in Lincoln.

Be sure to view the two slideshows from the lighting ceremony featured in today’s edition of Lincoln Daily News.

Throughout the rest of this week, LDN will feature daytime pictures of the trees as well because they are just as gorgeous and fun in the daylight as they are in the dark.

The trees will remain lit until the first of the year. Carriage rides will be provided free on Friday, December 4th, 11th, and 18th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night.

[Nila Smith]