Volunteers work to keep Christmas tradition alive
<p>Fair Board Manager Mike Hashisaki wraps Christmas lights for the annual ceremony at the Fairgrounds.</p>
PLAINS – Volunteers flocked to the Sanders County Fairgrounds on Thursday in an effort to put up the remainder of the lights for the return of the annual Christmas Lighting ceremony.
Typically the entire process includes Fair Board Manager Mike Hashisaki and Fairgrounds Groundskeeper Kim McNeil. With over two and a half months of work, the two work countless hours to ensure the lights are ready to be lit. However, this year the plan was shortened.
In earlier months it was stated the lights would be canceled for their 20th year, however, community support and donations brought the lights back just in time.
Volunteers were recruited to speed up the process from two and half months to two weeks.
Hashisaki said overall there were 15 to 20 volunteers who helped install the lights.
On Thursday all that was left to set up was the looming Christmas tree that makes its home on the flagpole. After a local Boy Scout group retired the flag on Wednesday, the flagpole was bare and ready to be decorated.
In what took almost two hours, the volunteers strung the lights and nailed them in place to ensure they would remain there.
“People came in and volunteered and we didn’t have to babysit them so that was nice,” said Hashisaki.
As the rain started to come down, the volunteers refused to leave until their last project was completed. As they stood around the makeshift Christmas tree arranging lights, many expressed the joy they felt at the lights return.
According to Hashisaki the tree was the last decoration that needed to be placed.
“Now we just have to light it up and hope we don’t blow a fuse,” Hashisaki said with a smile.
After the cancellation of the lights, several donations amounting to $5,000 were received from local community members. The money was enough to keep the tradition alive for another year.
The lighting will occur the Sunday before Thanksgiving on November 24th. The ceremony will include free hot chocolate and chili dogs from the Plains Lions Club. Santa Clause will also be on scene and candy canes will be handed out to the kids in attendance. Fireworks should also light the sky at the annual event.