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About 1,000 area kids visit with Santa |
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Wednesday, 24 December 2008 |
About 1,000 area children visited Santa Claus this year during the annual Saline County Celebration of Lights.
Organizer Joy Ballard said that’s not an unusual number of children compared to other years, but considering the bad weather on two nights, event planners are more than happy with the turnout.
Celebration of Lights kicked off Dec. 1 with the Christmas parade through Downtown Benton. Santa was available at the gazebo for two hours on several nights. Entertainment was provided and free cocoa and cookies were offered.
Children and their families also took in the thousands of lights that adorn the courthouse and courthouse lawn in Downtown Benton.
“Radio Disney was new and fun entertainment for the children,” Ballard said. “Karaoke nights were a great new addition.”
Karaoke was offered two nights. On Monday, the last night for Santa, Ballard said the below freezing temperatures made for a small turnout, but those who came enjoyed the last night of karaoke.
In addition to Radio Disney and karaoke, Ballard said more entertainment acts were lined up this year and willing to participate in the four-week event. Entertainers included Baux-ite Missionary Baptist Church Choir, Andrea Kent Dance Team, Bauxite Senior High Choir, Mandi Shepard and Songs of OEM.
A different county department played host each Monday and Thursday night.
“We had some challenges this year with the weather, but even the night we had ice [Dec. 15], we still had 54 kids show up that night,” she said.
Even though Santa is gone and no one will be there to serenade the crowd, people may still go to the courthouse to enjoy the lights until after New Year’s.
“The event is wonderful for Benton because there is more traffic coming in to look at the lights and it just adds to the hometown feel,” she said.
Celebration of Lights is part of the Central Arkansas region of the Trail of Holiday Lights. Other communities in this region include Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Conway, Jackson-ville, Beebe and Searcy.
A total of $7,306.87 was raised to fund the event.
Major sponsors for this year include Almatis and James Posey Inc., who each donated $1,000.
Other sponsors include Sue’s Pawn Shop; Roberson & Associates Inc.; Saline County Farm Bureau; Union Bank; Yoakum, Lovell & Co.; The Thomas Agency; Rineco; Smith-Caldwell Drug Store; Talbert Timber Co.; Bank of the Ozarks; Curtis Fergus-on; Floors and More Inc.; Jim and Angie Holland; Justices of the Peace J.R. Walters, Buster Warrick, David Allinson, Owen Bullock, Jerry Landreth and Tom Lish; Charitable Bingo & Raffle No. 5; and Jill Jones, executive director of the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission.
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