A lighting ceremony will be held tonight, Friday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. to honor the hard work of city employees in decorating downtown McMinnville with Christmas lights.
“We’ll meet on the grassy lot at 6 p.m. to celebrate the hard work of the Urban Forestry team who transformed our downtown into a Winter Wonderland with thousands of Christmas lights,” said Main Street McMinnville executive director Katie Kemezis. “Main Street McMinnville and the city of McMinnville are starting a new tradition to celebrate those who bring joy to our community. Join us for a Flip the Switch ceremony.”
According to the city landscape manager Hank Patton, who oversees the yearly process, there are approximately 85,000 lights in the display.
“We had approximately 75,000 last year and we’ve added 10,000,” said Patton. “Most noticeable will likely be the strobe lights we’ve added to the tree. We’ve decorated all the way down to the fire station and to the Farmers Market. We have some new ones by the courthouse and in other places that people probably won’t notice, but they are there.”
Patton said the placement process started in early October and will be complete before Friday’s ceremony, but not all the lights will be lit at that time.
“The tree’s lighting ceremony will be held during Christmas in the Park,” said Patton. “That’s Tuesday night, Dec. 4. So everything will be lit Friday night but the tree.”
Christmas in the Park is organized by McMinnville Junior Auxiliary members.
The Christmas-related activity is family oriented with activities for children, and those young at heart. That event is held in downtown Dec. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday’s ceremony is also a fundraiser for Warren County Emergency Food Bank. Main Street McMinnville will be collecting nonperishable foods, especially those used in holiday baking such as flour, sugar, cooking oil, chicken broth, etc.
Flip the Switch is estimated to last 30 minutes and will include Mayor Ben Newman, Mr. and Mrs. Motlow, and the cast of “The Day Before Christmas” as special guests.
