Keep the faith and ‘Let’s celebrate!’

Festival of Lights heralds in Christmas season

BROKEN BOW - About twenty minutes after 7 p.m. Monday eveing, downtown Broken Bow officially lit up for Christmas. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen flipped the power switch for the many colorful lights stretching out from the Bandstand to lamps posts decorated like large candles in the Square.

The annual ceremony took place with only six people in the Square, much different from past years when downtown would be bustling full with people after the Festival of Lights parade and other activities. However, many others watched from the warmth of their cars parked around the Square with horns honked as the lights came on.

The lighting of the Square came after the Festival of Lights “parade in reverse.” Floats were on display at the Custer County Fairgrounds. Beginning at 5 p.m., people were welcome to drive by to view floats, see Santa and receive goodie bags from businesses.

A line of cars waiting to access the fairgrounds formed quickly. One person said he counted at least 75 cars passing by his location in ten to fifteen minutes. Another said from the time he joined the line on Memo

rial Drive until he exited the fairgrounds, it was about 45 minutes. The vehicles edged slowly south on Memorial Drive with, at one point, the line extending back to Melham Medical Center.

Deb Kennedy, Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, was very happy with the turnout, for both participating businesses and spectators.

“We would like to thank this amazing community for their tremendous support of the Reverse Parade!,” she said. “We were blown away by the line of supporters for this COVID friendly event. Thank you to the businesses that participated as well. We know it wasn’t like normal, but we appreciate your willingness to adapt.”

It certainly was a different kind of holiday celebration, with children welcome to have pictures taken with Santa though with proper social distancing. Still the holiday spirit was evident and people appeared ready to to celebrate.

“This is amazing,” Natalie Gaddy said. “This is a great community thing.” Gaddy is new to town. Her husband, Nick Gaddy, is the new pastor at Third City Church. They, along with sons, Jaxon, 3, and Wyatt, 2, joined Pastor Doren Michael and others in handing out goodie bags.

In the Square for the lights were Mayor Sonnichsen, his wife Deb, City Administrator Dan Knoell, Park and Street Superintendent Darren Martin and two members of the media.

“2020 has been a tough year but we are recovering, just as we recovered from the floods of 2019,” the mayor said. “It’s the holidays now. It’s Christmas. Let’s keep the faith and let’s celebrate.”

Madison Siedschlag Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand in a bright green wagon pulled by matching ponies Katie and Mickey at the Fairgrounds for the Festival of Lights Parade in Reverse. Pictured above with Santa and Mrs. Claus are elves Arlene Hughes and Stephanie Evans. The Lions Club of Broken Bow brought Santa to the Fairgrounds with help from Don Wolford and Shirley Gottula.

Mona Weatherly Receiving a goodie bag from Brianna Brown of Great Western Bank, left, is four-year-old Oakley Zutavern and two-year-old John Zutavern (not pictured), the children of Kate Zutavern and the late Print Zutavern.

Mona Weatherly With musical instruments draped in lights, members of the Broken Bow Middle School Band are ready to play. From left, all eight graders, are: Emma Olson, daughter of Pete and Kyla Olson; Addisen Loughran, daughter of Matt and Misti Loughran; and Michael Forster, son of Helen and Adam Forester.

Madison Siedschlag At right, the line of vehicles for Monday’s “parade in reverse” stretched from the Fairground north on Memorial Drive and at one point, reached Melham Memorial Center.

Mona Weatherly As dusk begins to fall and before the long line of vehicles formed, Shayla Staab on Tega and Kirsten Scott on Honey, front, ride past the Bruning State Bank display.

Mona Weatherly Taking a look out the car window at all the lights to behold is three-yearold Jace Holcomb, son of Jacob and Chelsea Holcomb.

Mona Weatherly Above, at the Polar Express wheel for Nebraska State Bank are Tammy Schall, left, and Betsy Smith.

Madison Siedschlag The display for Gibbons Electric of Ansley lights up the night with reindeer, trees and more!