Winter Wonderland tree lighting
ceremony cold but heart-warming
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[November 29, 2021]
Friday evening, temperatures were cold in downtown Lincoln, dropping
down to freezing and below. Even so, there was a hardy crowd of
people who bundled up and came out to see the first lighting of 100
Christmas trees skirting the lawn of the Logan County Courthouse.
Now in its third year, the Winter Wonderland Christmas tree project
came close to doubling what it was last year. The first season there
were roughly forty trees on the lawn. In 2020 there were about 60
trees, and this year there were 100. Each tree was purchased by a
local business, organization or individual and decorated, many with
a theme that reflected their group or called to remembrance a loved
one lost.
The annual Winter Wonderland is the first of a number of activities
that will go on in the downtown area this Christmas Season. The idea
of placing the trees around the courthouse came from Kathie Williams
who is the owner of Small Town Creations on the square in Lincoln.
Friday evening as it came time to light up the trees for the first
time, Williams and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch addressed the large
group of people gathered on the sidewalk and on Kickapoo Street on
the west side of the courthouse.
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Williams began by saying that there were a number of people and
groups who had made it possible to place the trees and host the
lighting ceremony starting with the Logan County Board who gave
permission for use of the courthouse lawn. She thanked the city of
Lincoln for allowing for a one-hour street closure on Kickapoo
Street, making it possible for everyone to gather safely for the
tree lighting.
Cresco Labs, a large business on the outskirts of town was shown
much appreciation this year. The business that grows medical
cannabis has a community service program within its company. As
such, the company dictates that employees do a certain amount of
community service projects throughout the year. This year about a
dozen of the employees came out on Saturday, November 20th and
helped Williams and her husband Jim place the stakes and set the 100
trees. Williams said that it was a tremendous help with so many
trees and stakes and one that she was certain Jim Williams could
appreciate even more than she did.
Williams thanked those that purchased the 100 trees. She noted that
if the community didn’t support this project, it could not survive
and grow as it has, so her appreciation for all those that do
support it is great.
Williams also acknowledged Lincoln alderman Kevin Bateman who came
out and helped with setting up power to all the trees around the
square, Ken Richert who provided the sound system for the lighting
ceremony, and Logan County Tourism Director Alice Roate who helped
in various ways throughout the process.
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Next, Williams introduced Welch and asked him to speak on behalf of
the city of Lincoln.
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Welch began by saying that the one person who deserved a great deal
of thanks to Kathie Williams. He said, “This was Kathie’s brainstorm
a few years ago, and now we see again in Lincoln what happens when
people are very passionate about things, they put their mind to it
and get people involved with them.”
He went on to say that he and Kathie had taken a walk around the
courthouse and he enjoyed the talent and creativity that went into
the trees and thanked all those who participated.
Before holding the countdown to the lighting, Williams noted that
there were a large number of trees that are done “in memory of” a
loved one passed. She asked the group to observe a moment of silence
in honor of those lost.
Finally, she reminded everyone that there would be carriage rides
starting at 6 p.m. She encouraged everyone to walk around and enjoy
the trees and or take a ride and see them from the carriage
perspective.
When the lights came on, there was a whoop of appreciation and
applause, and even though it was cold, a large number of people did
take the walk around the courthouse lawn.
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Warm beverages were available from a couple of downtown resources,
and a nice sized group of people gathered for the first carriage
rides of the season.
The trees will remain on display throughout the holiday season with
expectations that they will be removed on New Year’s weekend.
Please be sure to go check them all out, they are lovely in the
daytime as well as at dark.
[Nila Smith] |