By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Downtown Bucyrus was aglow Thursday evening for the annual Candlelight Christmas, however the area was even brighter following a lighting ceremony for the Christmas lights on the square.
The Candlelight Christmas event features downtown Bucyrus businesses staying open late as shoppers go from store to store with the glow of candles lighting the sidewalks. More light was added to the event as Mayor Jeff Reser, City Safety/Service Director Jeff Wagner, along with members of North Central Ohio Media Group (NCOMG) helped throw the switch to the Christmas lights on the square for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Reser explained the ordeal that the city had gone through to get the square’s Christmas lights to return.
“Last year we were close to doing it, but we found that whoever installed the shrubs cut some of the electric. So Ron Boris, before he retired, got the electric working for us, and we had some people from the community make some donations, and then the $1,000 from WBCO/WQEL put us over the top. We were sweating until we had that. We thank them for that, it was so generous, and we were so excited. So we went out and started buying lights. They are General Electric LED C7 lights. We didn’t have a local source for them, so we did buy them at Lowes actually. We had to go to 12 different Lowes to buy them. It was quite an ordeal. We originally thought we were going to need 120 strands, we ended up needing about 180. The strands are about 50 bulbs per strand.”
Reser noted that he was excited to be able to light the Christmas lights at the square.
“I am thrilled. We installed them this week and we did some testing, and they look great. I couldn’t be happier. I am just thrilled, because this is such a beautiful square. You go through towns and you don’t see places like this. It deserves to be lit. It really does,” Reser said. “We may keep the lights up year round. We haven’t decided yet, we are very excited. I am very grateful to all the people who donated, especially WBCO/WQEL for hosting Baconfest and we being the beneficiary of it, not just us, but the whole residences in the city of Bucyrus.”
“It is a proud night for our community, because without the community’s support for Baconfest and Ohio Specialty Services Motor Ranch this wouldn’t be possible, and I thank the Mayor, Crawford County Now, and WBCO/WQEL. It’s a proud night for all of us,” NCOMG General Manager Kim Goyer added.
With the candle and Christmas lights aglow shoppers took to the shops in search of bargains and taking in the atmosphere as they searched for the perfect gift for their loved ones.
Shopping with her grandkids Tori Carmen and Kyliana Bennett, Mary Clark explained what she enjoys about shopping during Candlelight Christmas.
“We come up every year, I have my two younger brothers and my youngest granddaughter also here, and we have to ride the sleigh rides with the horses, and see Santa Claus, and we always go to the Pelican House to get some muffins and cocoa, and go in the different stores to see what they have to offer,” Clark said.
“I enjoy getting the hot cocoa and taking the sleigh rides,” Carmen added.
“I like to see the carolers, it is fun to hear them sing, and go on the sleigh ride and see Santa,” Bennett said.
Entering Norton’s Flowers was Paula Workman, Candace Kalb and Kalb’s niece Cali Weible. Kalb explained what they enjoy most about Candlelight Christmas.
“We have done it every year since the start. We love it. So we thought we would bring Cali my niece for the first time, and she got to meet Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus,” Kalb said. “I enjoy starting out at the Pelican House to get a hot chocolate, and we are going to go for a horse ride in a little bit.”
“I enjoy Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the lights too,” said Weible.
“I enjoy going to the Pelican, and seeing all of the lights and the people,” Workman added.
Sue Stander, owner of Norton’s Flowers, explained what is in style floral-wise this holiday season.
“We have a lot of different things, the newest style of Poinsettias is over there, and it is called ‘Autumn Leaves.’ If you have an earth-tone house, and you don’t want to put in all the reds and that type of thing, it is an orange and color that would fit in and still have a touch of Christmas,” Stander said. “Out front we have all kinds of different decorating styles from bright and shiny to burgundies, to a lot of lighted canvases, that is something new this year. There are owls with plaid hats, the cooler has a lot of the pine sets and different sets. One has the Nativity in it and has a flower called ‘The Star of Bethlehem’, and then we have a Santa mug that says ‘Believe in Santa Claus.’ Just a little bit for everybody.”
With collections of comics and toys going out the door, MB Subculture owner Betsy Gerhart explained what the local comic book shop was doing to celebrate Candlelight Christmas.
“We just have a few extra sales, we have some popcorn, and we are showing ‘White Christmas’ on the television tonight,” Gerhart said.
Gerhart spoke about her favorite aspect of Candlelight Christmas.
“I enjoy everybody coming downtown,” Gerhart added. “It is nice to see everyone downtown. We have had a few come in for the first time, and then there are all the people who come in and see my husband and say ‘Hey Larry,’ so that is nice that they get to come in.”
Sales weren’t just confined to shops as some downtown businesses spilled out onto the sidewalk. Selling the tea line ‘For Tea’s Sake’ at UB Dazzled, Brenda Siebenaler was participating in her first Candlelight Christmas.
“It is beautiful, I have seen a carriage, some carolers, people of all ages, and it really just gives you that small town feeling of what Christmas is about,” Siebenaler noted.
While some businesses were selling items, some groups were giving out hot beverages and cookies. Rachel Wion with the Bucyrus United Methodist Church was handing out hot cocoa, candy canes, as well as a small card with an angel for kids to color in.
“I enjoy talking to all the people and looking at all of the lights,” Wion said. “This is the first time we have done the hot cocoa and we are using my recipe.”
As people shopped into the night, the sounds of different groups caroling could be heard as the carolers would stop outside of the shops and in some instances would go inside to help spread some extra Christmas cheer.