New Christmas event planned

By: 
Gray Hughes

Back in the 1990s, Hill City was named the Christmas Capital of South Dakota.

Since then, Hill City hasn’t been embracing the Christmas spirit the same way, said Hill City mayor Kathy Skorzewski.

So she has a plan to change that, and that plan is the Lane of Lights.

The Lane of Lights would be a drivable experience where people would literally drive down a road with Christmas lights on the sides.

The Lane of Lights would be along Museum Drive starting at its beginning off of Hwy. 385 and ending at Fools Gold Court.

“Work is being done on the surface of Museum Drive,” Skorzewski said. “The bridge (on Museum Drive) isn’t in the best shape, but it’s still safe.”

The choice to have the Lane of Lights on Museum Drive is because of its historical significance to the town, Skorzewski said. Before Main Street was the main street in town, Museum Drive was the main street in Hill City.

Skorzewski said that she wants volunteers at the beginning of the Lane of Lights to hand out things such as cookies and hot chocolate as drivers and familes go through the Lane of Lights.

At the end, drivers will be on Main Street and will be able to enjoy the stores and restaurants Hill City has to offer.

The Lane of Lights would be held on Friday nights and Saturday nights, starting right after the Hill City Olde Tyme Christmas Parade on Nov. 27 and running through Christmas.

The addition of the Lane of Lights, Skorzewski said, will extend the Christmas parade route. The Lane of Lights will officially get kicked off once Santa Claus makes his way down the lane, Skorzewski said.

To power the lights, Skorzewski said she hopes to either have generators to power the displays or to tie into a business’s power or the well house’s power.

The idea for the Lane of Lights in Hill City was created by Skorzewski and Brett McMacken, city administrator  for Hill City.

Since then, the Hill City Area Chamber of Commerce has expressed interest in helping, Skorzewski said.

“Since this is our first year, we will still have to work out some of the kinks,” Skorzewksi said, adding with a laugh that there’s a stack of coat hangers at City Hall that will be made into snowflakes for the display.

Skorzewski said that, with the Lane of Lights, she will be encouraging families in Hill City to decorate their houses with lights for the Christmas season.

“Going to look at Christmas lights is a tradition for many families,” Skorzewski said. “We’re hoping that we are able to add to that and really make the Heart of the Hills the Heart of Christmas for this year and years to come.”

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