Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Holiday lights decorating Gurdon streets

Christmas lights abound in Gurdon this year.

As soon as turkeys were carved, Christmas trees and lights were being decorated in many houses.

On Thanksgiving night motorists could drive around the streets of Gurdon and see several Christmas displays already lit up.

Several events will be taking place in the next few weeks for Christmas.

On December 6, Gurdon will be having its annual Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade. The festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m. on the band stand in front of First State Bank.

Several individuals and groups are scheduled to sing. Some include, Winnie Clark, Evangeline Williams and her church group and several others.

Anyone interested in entering the parade can pick up a form at either Gurdon bank or the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce.

Also, Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina on DeGray Lake kicked off its light display at 6 p.m. Friday; the switch will was thrown initiating this year's display. The lodge, marina, and 20 acres of land and lake are covered with lights and lighted figures as part of 2002 Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights.

There is no charge to view the "drive-through" tour of lights at Iron Mountain; however, donations will be accepted. The proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation. The organization grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Santa always likes to have a Make a Wish representative help him throw the "master" switch to illuminate the lake. If a representative is not available, all the children present for the event help Santa throw the switch.

Last year, more than $11,000 was raised for Make A Wish. With the funds, the foundation was able to grant two wishes and help with several others.

More than one million lights will be used on the lodges, docks, marina, roadways and more.

Many of the displays are the result of work by lodge and marina customers, as well as local businesses and industries.

Many of the displays are memorials to loved ones who have died.

One of these displays is Lacie's Angel, which began five years ago as a memorial to an Iron Mountain customer's 14-year-old daughter who was killed in an accident.

The complex includes rows of lights along the roadway, a tunnel of lights and stationary displays. The 656-foot dock will also be bathed in lights.

Last year, the lodge and marina had 35,000 visitors to the lighting display. It takes more than just a few people to put up and operate the lights each year.