ELYRIA — Finwood Estate will be devoid of holiday cheer but Ely Square will soon twinkle with holiday lights.

Just not in the way residents have seen in the past.

The budget Scrooge in the city may have declared “Bah, Humbug!” when it comes to paying for the annual Festival of Lights from city coffers, but a group of dedicated holiday helpers are making sure there’ll be lights in the park.

Instead of strings of light on every tree, bush and lamppost, 40 to 65 donated trees will be decorated in time for Santa’s arrival.

“We will have only what we can light because Main Street Elyria is covering the cost of the entire event,” said Tamela Grubb, executive director. “Electrical and everything has to come from Main Street. No city workers can be involved beyond just turning on the lights and then setting them on a timer, and that has to be done during the day.”

The lights at Ely Square will be the only lights twinkling on city property this year.

Because of budget cuts, Mayor Bill Grace said Finwood Estate, the 45-acre property owned by the late Judge Guy Findley that was deeded over to the city for use as a park, will not be decorated for the holidays this year.

A trust set up by the judge only covers about $10,000 of the $50,000 yearly cost of lighting the displays and providing staff. Grace said the city cannot afford to subsidize the remaining cost of erecting the winter wonderland.

“Right now, we are using the fund for people to maintain the property and plan to use it into next year to continue to maintain the property,” he said.

But there is always Ely Square.

This year’s festivities, to be held 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 5 in the square, will mark the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Lights. New this year is the introduction of the Holiday Hope Trees.

“For a $30 sponsorship, a Holiday Hope Tree will be placed in Ely Square in the donor’s honor and covers the electrical expense for the lights,” Grubb said. “The placement of the beautiful 6-foot-tall blue spruce trees with tree stands donated by Don Moulds Plantation draped with LED lights donated by Elyria Hardware and decorations by local Elyria school children will surround the square.”

The display will stay up until the weekend of Dec. 20, when they will be delivered to local needy families.

And while Main Street Elyria is leading the charge to keep the tradition alive, others have chipped in, too. Several community leaders, businesses and local community organizations are aiding in the events designed to welcome Santa to Elyria amid an array of twinkling lights.

The Elyria Kiwanis, Sunrise Rotary, the American Red Cross, Abbewood, Salvation Army, Elyria Public Library and the local business owners are all collaborating on the event.

“Our main thing is remembering the season and getting back to the spirit of community by keeping our traditions alive,” Grubb said. “We need to hold onto traditions more now than ever before.”

The event will be made  complete by strolling carolers performing in Ely Square and downtown businesses hosting their annual holiday open houses.

A live nativity will perform at First Congregational Church and Lorain National Bank will host a book reading by Mrs. Claus.

The Boy Scouts will light the luminarias created by local children. Children who attend the Festival of Lights will receive a treat bag as well as have the opportunity to visit with Santa at his workshop after the lighting at about 5:30 p.m.

“Even though it may not be as well done as the city has done in the past, we thought it is a tradition the community needs to have,” Grubb said. “This will take us back to a time when community was about what you did for your neighbor.”

For more information on sponsoring a Holiday Hope Tree or donating lights and decorations, call Main Street Elyria at (440) 322-5000 or visit www.mainstreetelyria.com.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---