Published: November 25, 2009 04:22 pm      

Popular Holiday of Lights powering on

BLUEFIELD — Volunteers are ready to throw the switch tonight on the 13th season of the popular Holiday of Lights at Bluefield’s Lotito Park.

A team of dedicated volunteers have checked and doubled checked every light bulb in anticipation of tonight’s opening ceremony. The park will be illuminated just before 6 p.m. tonight.

“We have been working diligently on getting the Holiday of Lights set up,” City Manager Andy Merriman said. “Everything is running the way it should. We are looking forward to flipping the switch.”

Thousands travel to Lotito Park each holiday season to view the large-scale lights display. A canned food item will be accepted tonight as a donation to the display.

“It is absolutely a donations only event,” Merriman said. “But (today) we will accept canned food as a donation. The canned food will go to local food banks.”

More than 75 volunteers have helped to make this year’s Holiday of Lights display possible, including numerous groups and organizations, and students from Bluefield High School. Deb Sarver has helped to coordinate the volunteer team this year.

New additions this year include a lighted display at the Yakkity Yak playground, and a “Night in Bethleham” hands- on Holy Land experience sponsored by the Bluefield Community Church that will be held on Friday, Dec. 18, and Saturday, Dec. 19, near the entrance to the Holiday of Lights.

The Holiday of Lights will be open daily Sunday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., and from 6 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

This year, the Holiday of Lights attraction is being expanded to include the first City of Lights contest, which is open to all residents and businesses in Bluefield. The City of Lights contest is sponsored by the Daily Telegraph, GoodyKoontz Drug Store and WVVA TV-6.

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.

Merriman said the contest deadline has been extended to Monday, Nov. 30, to ensure the maximum number of participants.

“As far as the City of Lights, we are actually seeing a lot of interest here in the 11th hour,” Merriman said. “That’s great. We will take everyone we can get. It’s just a great community-wide event, and hopefully between the Holiday of Lights and the City of Lights we can provide a great regional attraction.”

Merriman said anyone wishing to participate in the City of Lights contest can call city hall at (304)-327-2464, or e-mail their entry to cityofbluefield.com.

The contest will be judged via ballots that will be placed in the Daily Telegraph later this month.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com