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Friday evening was chilly at a mere
32 degrees at 5:30 p.m. But despite the low temp there was a goodly
number of people who came out to witness the tree lighting ceremony
for the seventh annual Winter Wonderland event in downtown Lincoln.
As always, it is difficult to know for sure how many people were
there because it has become the practice of many to gather around
their specific tree so they can experience the rush of seeing it all
lit up. With approximately 150 trees temporarily planted on all four
sides of the Logan County Courthouse lawn, folks were scattered all
around the square.
On the west side of the courthouse, a sound system was set up with
Christmas music playing before the official lighting. Logan County
Board member Lance Conahan was on hand, and just moments before the
ceremony began he went into the courthouse and switched the exterior
lighting from the standard white to red and green for the Christmas
holidays month.
The lighted courthouse made of a
lovely backdrop for the trees once they were lit.
Leading the official ceremony was
Winter Wonderland organizer Kathy Williams, accompanied by Lincoln
Mayor Tracy Welch.
Williams began by saying that when
the trees around the square began seven years ago one of the primary
goals was to offer an opportunity for families to remember loved
ones passed by decorating a tree in their honor. In that spirit, she
asked for a moment of silence for all those who have passed away
since the last tree lighting.
After that moment, Williams said she wanted to extend some sincere
thanks first to those who were present that evening, and to those
who had decorated their trees. She issued additional thanks to the
city of Lincoln for the street closures on lighting night, to Kevin
Bateman with the Up in Smoke group for providing the power for the
tree lights, and the county for the use of the courthouse lawn.
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Williams issued
additional thanks to the staff from Cresco Labs that comes out
on the Saturday before to help “plant” the trees in the
courthouse lawn, and her father Ken Richart who provides the
sound system for the ceremony.
She finished by giving thanks for her husband Jim and her kids
and the staff at her business, Small Town Creations, noting that
all of them had helped keep everything going while she spent
time focusing on the trees and the details that are a big part
of it.
Mayor Welch was then given the microphone. He added his kudos to
the group who works so hard to get this all done each year, he
acknowledged the county as well and noted that the city of
Lincoln provides lighting around the square for the holiday
season.
Welch went on to mention the Christmas Parade that will be this
coming week and mentioned that this year Williams will be the
grand marshal.
To hear from Williams and Welch and see the tree lighting as it
happened, be sure to watch this
video.
In addition to the lighting of the trees, Williams and Welch
plugged the carriage rides that were going on Friday evening
after the lighting and encouraged visitors to stop in at the
downtown businesses that were staying open for the evening.
On Friday evening the carriage rides feature the white enclosed
carriage with matching white horses with glittery red and green
hooves.
Get a sneak peek of the carriage ride via this
video.
The downtown trees
will be lit continually throughout the month of December. Each tree
is sponsored and decorated by a specific group.
Some trees are done in memory of loved ones no longer living, while
others are Seasons Greetings from local businesses, schools, and
organizations.
Nila Smith
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