It's Christmas in August in downtown Bluffton. Really.

Check out the 4-foot-tall lighted snowflake hanging from the light pole in front of Common Grounds and The Food Store at the Main-Cherry intersection. Also check out the 12-foot holiday garland wrapped around the pole.

What's this all about? Has Bluffton lost track of what month it is? The answer is "No."

Here's the long answer:

This year Bluffton's downtown takes on a brighter appearance in November and December. That's because through the efforts of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce new garlands will hang on Main Street all the way from the A to Z Meats and Groves' Quality Collectibles to the Mennonite Mutual Aid Society on South Main.

The new garlands cost over $14,000 and are paid for by individual businesses at $7.65 per linear foot. The garlands have been on chamber monthly meeting agenda since February. The chamber members voted to purchase the new lights in June. The reason for the new garlands is simple. The old ones are nearing 30 years old and have outlived their life span.

The new garland measure over 1,500 linear feet. They will arrive in October via semi-truck and will eventually be given to their new owners, the individual Main Street businesses.

When the streetscape program was completed, Mayor Fred Rodabaugh asked the chamber to act as the catalyst to develop a plan for ordering new garlands and holiday lights on Main Street.

A chamber committee formed this past winter to review garland option. Committee members include Dr. Mark Yoder of Family Eye Care Clinic, Lauren Beasley of Citizens National Bank, Gideon Fisher of Greg's Pharmacy, Jon Kinn, fire chief, and Fred Steiner, chamber. The committee worked in consultation with Jamie Mehaffie of the village and Aphaphanh Nussbaum, chamber president, of Ten Thousand Villages.

The new garlands are identical to the present set except that new garlands are lit with C9 LED bulbs, which last longer than the current lights. In addition, these bulbs are much brighter and more energy efficient than the old bulbs.

The chamber ordered the new garland through Northern Lights Display of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. During the process, all storefronts were re-measured and each storefront will have a custom-fit garland.

In addition, the chamber plans to purchase several lighted snowflakes to hang on many of our Main Street light poles. The chamber will also purchase garland for the Main Street light poles. The chamber will pay for these with its own funds. Businesses will not be charged for the snowflakes or light pole garlands. (see story on top)