GRAVETTE — The installation of Christmas decorations in Gravette was scheduled to begin Monday of this week. But Mother Nature had other ideas as a cold rain began to fall.
The installation has been rescheduled to begin Wednesday morning, said Gravette Mayor Byron Warren.
The work is scheduled to be completed for a lighting ceremony scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday evening.
The City Council recently approved purchase of numerous new decorations, as well as refurbishing the wire frame of the city’s present decorations. All items will be equipped with LED lights, which are guaranteed to burn longer and at a reduced cost.
The business Get Lit, a Springdale firm which has for its motto “Your Holiday and Event Lighting Expert,” will install all of the decorations.
Besides refurbishing the existing wire frame, the tops of Main Street buildings will be lit and snowflake decorations will be added.
In Centennial Park, thecaboose and gazebo will both be outlined with lights, as will the fighter jet, gazebo and lights for the Kindley Park entrance.
In Old Town Park, extensive lighting will be installed, a mega tree with 10,000 lights will be erected and a Nativity scene and ice-skating penguin display installed.
Saturday Events
A “Light Up Gravette” parade will be held on the usual parade route ending in Kindley Park where Santa will be on hand to greet children. Almost a dozen entrants have indicated they will be participating.
At 7 p.m. “A Hometown Country Christmas” will be held at the Civic Center, featuring Matt Reeves and the All Americans. Thereis no admission, and free chili and hot drinks will be served.
As a prelude to Saturday activities, the Gravette Community Choir will present “A Family Reunion Christmas” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Assembly of God Church. Singers from several churches, directed by Gabra Stewart, will also present the free program at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
A Christmas Craft Fair will also be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center.
Lighting of the “Love Lights a Tree” will be held the following Friday evening, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. Contributions to this fund raiser for the American Cancer Society are still being accepted by Mary Beth Mitchell and Coleen Dickinson.
News, Pages 5 on 11/28/2012