By Fred Steiner
It all starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday in downtown Bluffton.
It's the 25th annual Bluffton Blaze of Lights. This year's Blaze continues a tradition launched in 1986 when the Harry and Dorothy Ream outdoor Christmas folk art display moved from rural Jenera to Bluffton.
Web and Facebook site
The 25th annual Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce Blaze of Lights is Saturday, Nov. 26. Here is the up-to-the-minute Blaze information. This information is also on the chamber website: www.explorebluffton.com.
Any schedule updates will be placed on the website.
In addition, The Blaze of Lights Committee created a Blaze Facebook site. There, users may share the event with friends, get timely updates and sign up for events and more. The Facebook event can be found by visiting the Bluffton, Ohio page at www.facebook.com/blufftonohio.
The website and Facebook sites include schedules, links to entertainment, information about the parade, lighting contests, directions to Bluffton for out-of-town visitors and a map showing where lights in Bluffton are located.
Ice sculpture - new downtown entertainment
New to this year's Blaze is a presentation by ice sculptor Chad Hartson of Ice Creations, from Napoleon. He is one of America's leading sculptors with national and international recognition.
Beginning at 4 p.m., as the crowd watches, Hartson will work with a block of ice 40 by 20 by 10 inches and over the next 45 minutes will create an ornate snowflake. The work will then be auctioned. Hartson's work is described as a the "ultimate cool."
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John George - Blaze MC
John George, who has served as the Blaze master of ceremonies since 1995, will again perform that role. Dressed in his traditional town crier garb, George will announce events from the Blaze review stand on the Presbyterian Church lawn. He and Junior Weihrauch, Blaze parade coordinator, will announce Blaze parade entries from the review stand.
Entertainment
4:00 p.m. -Ice carving exhibition by Chad Hartson -
The ice work will be auctioned off prior to the parade
5:00 p.m. - Parade
5:45 to 6:45 p.m. - Bluffton Stars perform
David Yoder
Raiti Trio
Katie Althaus
Andrew Reese
Tina and Devon Fleming
6:45 p.m. - Interview with Jerry Burkholder, who will turn on the lights; recognition of 13 sponsors of Main Street snowflakes
6:55 p.m. - John George recites Christmas story from Luke 2
7:00 p.m. - Jerry Burkholder turns on the Ream lights
7:05 p.m. - Bluffton High School show choir performs
Meet Ronald McDonald
The official Ronald McDonald will be in this year's Blaze parade. Following the parade, he will meet people downtown to will pose for photos. Jerry Lewis McDonald's Restaurants sponsors his visit.
New holiday cutout
A new piece, created by Terry Mullenhour, joins the Ream display. It's a snowball fight. It is part of the "winter wonderland" scene on Cherry Street.
80+-unit parade
This year's parade forms at 4 p.m. on Snider Road. The parade begins at 5 p.m. A first, second and third prize will be awarded to the top floats, with each winner receiving a trophy. Judging takes place during the parade line up. Float winners will be announced during the parade. Parade units will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Nov. 26.
Junior Weihrauch, parade coordinator, said that this year's parade could be the largest in Blaze history. The parade route travels Snider Road south to Main Street and to College Avenue. It turns east on College and disbands at Triplett Drive.
Food:
o S & S Concessions (Brett Stratton, town hall
o County Kettle Corn (Crawfis family), The Sports Warehouse alley
o First Mennonite Church youth group, 138 N. Main St.
o Dullin Dogs Express (Jeanne Ream and Val Phillips), Vine St.,
o Bluffton High School junior class post-prom committee, Bluffton News, nachos with cheese or with cheese and meat, hot chocolate, bottled water and individual servings of cookies and brownies
o Bluffton Senior Citizens will offer their traditional Blaze supper from 4 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m. Their menu includes soups, sandwiches and homemade pie.
o Bluffton Lions Club will offer a chicken barbecue from 4 to 7 p.m. Meals are available at the elementary school. Meals may be picked up or eaten at the school. Tickets are on sale from Lion members.
English Lutheran Church will have a display in front of John Wagner's Nationwide Agency promoting "Giving Good Gifts this Christmas." It is a program of the ELCA that provides animals, health care, water, farm implements to persons in need throughout the world. The table will show the kind of gifts available to give.
Parade marshal and "light switch person"
Long-time Bluffton residents John Murray will be this year's parade marshal. Jerry Burkholder, another life-long resident and volunteer, will turn on the Ream lights at 7 p.m.
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be in the Blaze parade. Following the parade, they will meet with youth of all ages at the Senior Citizens Center.
Horse and wagon rides one night only
Weis Royal Carriages of Elida will provide horse and wagon rides on the night of the Blaze. This is the only night that those rides will be offered. Rides will start at the conclusion of the Blaze parade and will continue during the evening. Departure point for the rides is on East Elm Street at the town hall. Tickets for horse and wagon rides are $4 for persons 11 and older and $2 for youth 10 and under. Children who can sit on an adult lap have no charge. Tickets will be sold at the front entrance of the town hall. Ticket sales will begin during the parade.
The Gift of Giving light show extravaganza
In its fourth season, the Gift of giving light show extravaganza will be shown across from Harmon Field stadium on East College Avenue. The show will be viewed nightly from 6 to 11 p.m. from Nov. 26 through Jan. 1, 2012. Based upon last year's attendance, it is anticipated to attract an audience of over 5,000.
Bluffton Baptist Church live nativity
The Bluffton Baptist Church will hold its annual live nativity during the parade until 9 p.m. in the church parking lot, 345 County Line Road. A second showing is from 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3.
Residential decorating contest instructions
Any resident within the Village of Bluffton corporation limits may enter the residential contest. Cash prizes will be offered this year, to create a greater interest in the contest. Three prizes will be awarded:
o First place, a $200 cash prize
o Second place, a $100 cash prize
o Third place, a $50 cash prize
Judging will take place Friday evening, Dec. 2. The Blaze of Lights committee will judge the residential contest.
To make certain your residence is judged e-mail: [email protected]. On the message line write: "Residential lighting contest entry." In the e-mail message list your name and street address.
The e-mail entry assures that your residence to be judged. However, judges may also consider displays not formally entered.
Main Street windows contest
This year marks a change in the judging of Main Street retail windows.
Judging took place by all businesses that participated in the new garland project.
The results of the voting will be announced from the Blaze stage on Saturday.
A new traveling trophy, on display at Common Grounds, will go to the business lighting contest winner. Second and third place windows will receive certificates.
Map showing holiday lights
Residents with outdoor Christmas displays may place their residence on the 2011 Bluffton Christmas lights map.
The printer-friendly map is posted on the Bluffton chamber website for the benefit of out-of-town persons interested in knowing where to go to view lights in Bluffton.
(www.explorebluffton.com).
Printed copies of the map will be available in the Ream display red mailbox on the Presbyterian lawn. Printed copies will also be available at the Bluffton Marathon and other businesses.
The chamber has offered the free maps for several years. All Blaze sponsors are listed on the maps. Generally about 300 to 400 maps are picked up, indicating the number of out-of-town visitors Bluffton has during November and December.
A printer-friendly map is an attachment at the bottom of this story.
13 lighted snowflakes
This year's Blaze includes a $20,000+ lighting facelift. Over 1,406 linear feet of new garland will decorate Main Street. This is the first time Main Street garlands have been replace in 25 years. In addition, 13 four-foot lighted snowflakes will hang from light poles. The snowflake project will continue with the intention of addition more snowflakes next year.
A chamber garland committee was in charge new light project. Members of the committee are: Lauren Beasley of Citizens National Bank, Dr. Mark Yoder of Family Eye Care, Gideon Fisher of Greg's Pharmacy, Jon Kinn, Bluffton fire chief, Jamie Mehaffie, village administrator, and Fred Steiner, of the chamber.
Snowflake sponsors -
Business sponsors are:
1 - Citizens National Bank
2 - Associates of DTR Industries
3 - R.D. Neff and Associates
4 - Affiliates of Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs
5 - Chiles-Laman Funeral Homes
6 - Reichenbach & Steiner CPAs-Webb Insurance- Samuel Diller, LPA
7 - McDonald's Restaurant
8 - Family Eye Care
Individual sponsors are:
9 - Dwight and Clarabeth Bixel
10 - Ropp and Mary Em Triplett
11 - Tom and Anne Heimann and Bill and Paula McKibben
12 - Jon and Mandy Kinn
13 - Fred and Pat Rodabaugh
Blaze of Lights sponsors
Twenty-four businesses assisted the Blaze with sponsorships. Those sponsors follow:
Gold - $1,500
o Bluffton University
o Jerry Lewis McDonald's Restaurants
Silver - $500
o Bluffton Paving and Bluffton Stone Co.
o Bluffton Hospital
o Citizens National Bank
o DTR Industries
o Greg's Pharmacy
o Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio
o Shannon Theatre and Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn Co.
Ruby - $300
o Chiles-Laman Funeral Home
o Family Eye Care
o Schoolhouse Electronics
Bronze - $150
o Bluffton Aeration Service
o Bluffton Icon
o Chase
o First National Bank
o Jeanne's Kitchen
o Mennonite Mutual Aid Society
o Kirtland's Auto Sales
o Samuel Diller
o Sielschott, Walsh, Keifer & Regula, CPAs
Blaze committee
This year the chamber board selected a new Blaze of Lights Committee. Blaze members are: Lauren Beasley, Brandon Huber, John George, Ryan Lowry, Tracy Steele, Phil Zimmerly, Junior Weihrauch and Fred Steiner.
