Can We Talk About Christmas in October?

... or better yet the HOLIDAYS? To get to the point, I think it would be great if we'd encourage efforts to really light up the Ward at holiday time. Some years ago Dan DeMarle came up with the MLK Day luminary idea in part because the winter can be so dark and dreary in these parts and because the light brings cheer and hope back and gets people outside interacting with each other. The idea has really taken off. At holiday time the D&C has been publishing locations where there are good light displays worth driving to see. What if the 19th Ward was one of those destinations? And might it just be good for us as a community? I think we have the streets, architecture, and forestry to make a great canvas. We already have a few light displays on Genesee Park Boulevard that are inspired. There have been years when Marlborough is lit up nicely. The holiday lights would come down just in time for luminaries. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Fasolo on October 6, 2009 at 1:36pm

We just painted ours "Grandma's Linen" green in July and now I need to paint our front door a startling shade of purple. I love to decorate the house for the holidays, but when it comes to the exterior I'm always at a loss with it. I can very easily go over the top and so I've opted for the side of safety until I can figure it out. I was thinking a ten foot tall inflatable Santa surrounded by an army of white wire reindeers with little lights in them. Hmmmmm... no maybe I better think more on this. I hope my coffee kicks in soon.

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Permalink Reply by Mollie Foust on October 23, 2009 at 11:22pm

I think this is a great idea! I am a recent graduate of UR and have lived in Rochester for 5 years. Originally I am from Chicago and every year my family made a trek to one particular neighborhood to see the "Lights of Lincolnwood". When I first arrived in Rochester I searched for a place similar to that, where there was a big display area or a "destination" that people came from all over to see, but have never been able to find one. I think it would be fantastic to have the 19th Ward be a place that could become that. I would be interested in volunteering time to make fliers or "campaign" to neighbors and see how we can get the ball rolling on this. We can even see if local stores will donate any lights...

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Permalink Reply by Wendy Sullivan on October 24, 2009 at 3:18am

We do light every year and have found that when a few folks do them, they spread down the street. I wonder if some of us with extra lights from years past (yes, we get too many sometimes) can share them with folks in rental properties who seem to be less likely to decorate. We can also offer to assist elderly neighbors with their lights.

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Permalink Reply by Dan DeMarle on October 24, 2009 at 8:55am

This sounds like a wonderful idea. I know Sheri and I were talking about setting up lights on the trees in the Ravenwood Thurston Garder. We would need help to do this.

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Permalink Reply by Margy Meath on October 24, 2009 at 3:22pm

count me in for lights!
Perhaps those who do decorate and who celebrate Christmas might also think about doing Luminaries one or two nights during the Christmas/New Year holiday week.... if enough people did it, it might increase the potential for the MLK luminary's continued growth - and, less people might say 'what the heck is a luminary anyway'!?! :-)