Longmont residents are invited to spread some holiday cheer on Saturday at Light Up the Plaza, the city’s annual lighting event.
The downtown Longmont tradition is typically held the day after Thanksgiving. Colin Argys, marketing and event specialist with the Longmont Downtown Development Authority, explained the main reason for bumping it up this year was to avoid too many events happening on next weekend’s Small Business Saturday.
“Small Business Saturday is such a big, important day for our small businesses down here,” Argys said. “We wanted to kind of give that its own breathing room … as its own standalone event, rather than another thing to do on an already busy weekend.”
Last year, the lighting ceremony debuted at the Library and Civic Center Plaza at 350 Kimbark St., moved there from its original Sixth Avenue and Main Street location. This year’s ceremony returns to the Civic Center Plaza, since the venue worked well last time, Argys said.
“The space is really more conducive to a large gathering of people,” he said. “(The ceremony’s) just kind of outgrown the past event space.”
Saturday’s event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with plenty of holiday activities, including visits with Santa, a variety show, take-home crafts and music performances. Event sponsor NextLight will serve hot drinks and sweet treats, with kettle corn being a new addition this year.
Around 6:30 p.m., the plaza and its surrounding trees will come to life with color as lights kick on. The decorated tree at the Sixth Avenue Plaza will also turn on in tandem with the Civic Center Plaza lighting.
Argys said the LDDA always enjoys bringing the community together through the event. He said the ceremony tends to draw a good crowd that represents a diverse array of Longmont residents.
“(The holidays) are usually a time of joy, and we love getting that kicked off,” he said. “There’s something magical about turning all the lights on all at once.”
More information about Light Up the Plaza and other downtown holiday events can be found at downtownlongmont.com/holidays.