FESTIVAL of lights

Denton's Annual Lighting Festival brings togeter the community as it promotes the joy of giving.

ou’ll need sunglasses in the wintertime at Denton’s Holiday Lighting Festival in the historic downtown Square on Dec. 4, where a collage of thousands of star-like lights cover the Square’s trees, railings, and lamp posts.

The festival has marked the start of the city’s holiday season for 20 years, and this season will be no different.

The free family-friendly event welcomes all area residents. The festival officially began in 1988, though its origins go back much further. Its roots go back to a courthouse tradition, in which city residents decorated the storied building with wreaths and ribbons more than 100 years ago.

The festivities were re-imagined in the late ’80s by the Denton Holiday Festival Committee, leading to the festival presented today that welcomes about 10,000 visitors to the Courthouse-on-the-Square each year.

According to festival co-chair Ellen Painter, this year’s event should only be bigger and better than past years.

“We have more lights, more activities, and more entertainment,” Painter says. “It is something to be both proud and excited about.”

Th e festival’s big draw, the annual lighting of the community Christmas tree, begins at 5:30 p.m. Th e winner of a Denton Record- ChroniclD-sponsored coloring-book contest, with participants from many local elementary schoolage children, fl ips the switch that illuminates almost 20,000 bulbs on the tree and all along the downtown Square. Th e lighting ceremony also starts the Christmas Carol singalong with the Denton Community Band.

“It’s that moment that all the residents and local visitors come to experience,” Painter says. “It’s a chance to be a community and fully realize the spirit of the holiday season. It is a great moment, one that many people work hard to achieve.”

Even so, the festival offers much more once the tree is actually lit.

The festival features a family-friendly lineup with entertainment acts like the Festival Ballet of North Central Texas, the Denton Community Band, the Music Theatre of Denton, the Texas Woman’s University Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Syncopated Ladies, Dance Fusion, and an array of local school choirs and bands.

“The musicians and dancers truly are a blessing,” Painter says. “The festival’s vibe has a real warmth to it, and a good part of that is owed to all of the entertainers that come out.”

One of the staples of the festival is local Grammy-winning Polka pioneer Brave Combo, who will end the night’s festivities with an hour-long live performance.

“Brave Combo has long been one of the most consistent parts of this festival,” Painter says. “They really send the festival out on a high note.”

Another fan-favorite is the annual Wassail Fest, in which participating downtown shops compete to make the best wassail—a traditional hot, spiced winter punch.

Once again WFAA-TV Channel 8 is getting involved in the festival. It will broadcast live segments during the event, and use Denton’s Holiday Lighting as a drive site for the annual Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive to benefit underprivileged kids. All new, unwrapped toys are welcomed.

“It’s a wonderful partner for us,” Painter says. “Through the media, we are able to raise awareness for our festival, and at the same time support a great charity.”

There’s also plenty of fun for the kids.

The festival hosts Santa at the Courthouse, where children can take photos with Saint Nick. For a nominal price, children can also take advantage of the arts and crafts booths that are set up through the event’s entirety.

“We try hard every year to have plenty for adults, but also fun events for children,” Painter says.

Families can also take advantage of carriage rides that will take guests around the Denton’s downtown square.

:: VOLUNTEERS

With the festival comes the need for volunteers. That’s 100 to be exact.

“The community is involved in so many aspects,” Painter says. “They help with everything—it’s all done by volunteers. And with no paid staff, we need all the help we can get.”

Painter adds that most volunteers are representatives from around the community, and that they welcome all who want to participate. “We have shop owners, teenagers, and housewives,” she says. “We really have a great mix.”

Interested parties can contact volunteer coordinator Mary Pastorius at (940) 565-3807 or mpastorius@unt.edu

BY CLAY SWARTZ