Granite Shoals cancels lighting ceremony Friday, Dec. 2
Contributed/Donna Maier
The lights go up on Granite Shoals Christmas by the Highway Monday, Nov. 22, in preparation for the lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2. Pedernales Electric Cooperative contractors Josh Burck, up top, and Dakota Smith, below, assisted by volunteers city council member Jim Davant, also at the base of the pole, and former mayor Dennis Maier, right. The city is calling on volunteers every day to help the lights go on Friday.
Predictions of possible rain have the City of Granite Shoals cancelling the lighting ceremony for Christmas by the Highway tonight, Friday, Dec. 2.
A “light brigade” of volunteers assembled and appied finishing touches to its annual light display and set tonight for the ceremony at 6 p.m. That will not take place, according to City Manager Ken Nickel.
Work that began Monday, Nov. 28, went on each day to erect displays on Ranch to Market Road 1431.
“We worked from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. every day until the displays are complete,” said Donna Maier, chairwoman of the Granite Shoals Beautification Advisory Group.
Work went on for some time behind the scene, but the first visible sign went up Monday, Nov. 21, when three Pedernales Electric Cooperative bucket trucks arrived to install the tall light trees that punctuate the ensemble of thousands of lights.
“The PEC has always been generous to help us, but bad weather called them out to help customers the last two years,” said Maier. “We were thankful to see them this year.
“We are just as grateful to Highland Lakes residents who roll up their sleeves and finish the project,” she said. “It's great fun and it looks like the weather will be mild.”
Hearty volunteers have suffered wind chilled noses, fingers and toes in some past years. But the long range forecast looks better for 2016, all the way through to the opening on Dec. 2.
Kids may have fun identifying which of the 10,000 'Despicable Me' Minions has slipped away to join the lights as the newest Christmas by the Highway character.
Visitors will see new candy canes, baby deer and a horse and carriage around the light tunnel and messages of Christmas joy. Children from Highland Lakes Elementary School, under the direction of Luisa Lopez and Cynthia Walker, will provide Christmas carols and hot chocolate and cookies will be waiting.
To learn more about joining the volunteer light brigade, call Maier at 512-626-2682.
