Rutland Christmas Light Up features number of events
Rutland will be lit up with bright Christmas lights this weekend. The free Rutland Christmas Light Up will take place on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This year, the Light Up will feature events in several areas of Rutland. “We’re incorporating as much of the business area as we can,” said Laurel D’Andrea, executive director, Uptown Rutland Business Association.
The festivities will begin at Willow Park Shopping Centre at 3 p.m., where there will be hot chocolate and coffee, Christmas carollers and the Santa bus.
The first 150 people at Willow Park Shopping Centre will be given a tea light candle to carry while walking and singing carols up Highway 33 on the way to Roxby Square at 4 p.m.
For the first time, Christmas lights will shine along part of the highway.
The Santa Sleigh bus will also make its way to Roxby Square, where the official light up will happen at 4:30 p.m.
Entry forms to win a ride on the Santa bus from Willow Park Shopping Centre to Roxby Square will be available at Willow Park Shopping Centre from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
At Roxby Square from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Rutland Secondary School choir will sing Christmas carols, and there will be free hot chocolate, cookies and chili.
At Plaza 33 between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., craft tables will be set up inside, and there will be face painting, cookie decorating and letter writing to Santa.
At 7 p.m., Santa will read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Rutland library.
“This is an opportunity for people to see the different parts of Rutland and the different businesses, and to realize there’s lots of great things here,” said D’Andrea.
Organizers are expecting anywhere from 500 people to 1,500 people to attend this year’s Light Up.
Non-perishable food items will be collected for the Salvation Army.
We’re incorporating as much of the business area as we can. Uptown Rutland Business Association’s Laurel D’Andrea