Published: November 20, 2009 05:20 pm      

In the spotlight — Bluefield lights up for the holidays

It’s time to usher in the 2009 holiday season with thousands of colorful lights at Bluefield’s Lotito Park.

With a flip of a switch, the city’s 13th season of the popular Holiday of Lights will be illuminated on Thanksgiving night. This year, the attraction is being expanded to include the first City of Lights contest, which is open to all residents and businesses in Bluefield.

The contest is being held to determine the best holiday decorations in the city this year in both the residential and commercial categories. Prizes — $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third — will be awarded in both categories.

All residential and commercial structures to be judged in the City of Lights competition must be entered by Monday. The contest will be judged via ballots that will be placed in the Daily Telegraph later this month.

The Holiday of Lights, and the City of Lights, should help ensure double the fun for area residents and visitors to Bluefield this season.

The Holiday of Lights is a proven success story for Bluefield. The city is averaging about 20,000 visitors to Lotito Park each holiday season.

With estimates of three or more people in each vehicle traveling through the Holiday of Light’s display, that’s a total of 60,000 to 70,000 visitors to Lotito Park each holiday season, according to earlier reports by Robin Lefler, director of the Bluefield Parks and Recreation Department.

Now, many of those visitors will be driving across Bluefield in search of the best decorated homes and businesses.

We join the city of Bluefield in welcoming all of these visitors to the Holiday of Lights, and we encourage participation in the new City of Lights.

The contest, sponsored by the Daily Telegraph, GoodyKoontz Drug Store and WVVA TV-6, is a great way to showcase the city during one of the most beautiful and joyous times of the year.

It’s time to greet the 13th year of Bluefield’s Holiday of Lights.

Let’s all kick off the holiday season together Thursday night at Lotito Park.