For 32 years, the residents of Bluffton have held a celebration known as the Blaze of Lights, which includes a holiday parade, live entertainment, festive family activities, and the lighting of the Ream folk art display.
This year, the event is on Saturday, Nov. 24, when thousands of people will come to enjoy a warm, homestyle Christmas celebration.
"You know when the OSU football game is over," notes chamber CEO Paula Scott; "Suddenly, Main Street is swarmed with people exploring and finding their spots for the parade. It's a great place to meet family and friends.”
A two-hour ice delay turned into a school cancellation day today (Thursday, Nov. 15) for Bluffton and many area schools.
The two-hour delay was called at 5:26 a.m. The cancellation announcement was made at 7:30 a.m. At the time of this posting the temperature was 31 degrees with ice-covered roadways.
Beth Raeburn, Tim Closson and Greg Denecker, representing Bluffton elementary school, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to receive the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award.
Bluffton elementary is one of only 16 schools in Ohio to receive the award.
Only 349 schools (300 public, 49 private) nationwide received the award out of 130,000 schools in the United States.
New this year, Bluffton’s Blaze of Lights is featured on the Holiday Lights Trail at Ohio.org/Holidays.
“The map will lead travelers to Bluffton’s Blaze of Lights, which includes the Ream folk art display, downtown holiday lights, and residential lights,” says Paula Scott, CEO of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We are thrilled that Bluffton’s cherished traditions are now part of the Holidays In Ohio campaign.
It was no surprise that Republican candidates for state office swept Bluffton, Richland Township and Beaverdam voters on Nov. 6.
Bluffton voters supported Mike DeWine, Republican, over Richard Cordray, Democrat, in the governor’s race. Only once since 1936 have Bluffton voters supported a Democrat governor candidate. Watch the Icon for details on this historic trend.
