Donors come forward to light Town Square tree

There will be a lighted tree on Glenwood’s Town Square this holiday season after all, thanks to the generosity of some 11th-hour donors.

Just weeks after the city of Glenwood announced it didn’t have the funds to replace damaged Christmas lights for the large evergreen tree on the southwest corner of Town Square, Glenwood city clerk Angie Winquist said several donors came forward to fund lights for the tree, including Dr. Paul Albertson, the Glenwood Outcasts, Frank Desparrois and Kelly Anderson.

The lights will be turned on Thursday evening at the start of the Glenwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Home for the Holidays celebration.

“We’re grateful that donors have stepped up to provide lights for the tree,” Glenwood Mayor Brian Tackett said at last week’s city council meeting.

In October, the mayor and city council learned that squirrels, attracted to corn-based materials on the wiring, had damaged the old holiday lights for the tree.

The Home for the Holidays celebration begins Thursday with a sing-along and tree-lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. on the southeast corner of the square. Santa will arrive around 5:30 p.m. at the Bloom Senior Center, where a chamber of commerce after hours, sponsored by Black Hills Energy, will be taking place. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. Santa will a hand out candy canes and pose for pictures.

Secret Santas will try to catch local shoppers throughout the weekend to give out Chamber Bucks to lucky winners at various businesses.  

Check-in for Saturday’s Holiday Hustle 5K and Kids Fun Run is at 7:30 a.m. at Glenwood Lake Park. The race begins at 8 a.m. Call 527-3298 for additional information about the race.

Later on Saturday, from 7 p.m. - midnight., the annual Ugly Sweater Contest and Karaoke competition will take place at the Quarthouse Lounge.