Annual Festival Of Lights event Saturday
A tradition that started in 1996 through the efforts of Daniel and Anna Klekar along with Sandra Migl, Keeve Sommer and Msgr. John Peters and in later years through the coordination of Jean and Roy Schaefer, and Jim and Bea Jakubek as well as many other volunteers, the Festival of Lights event is set for this Saturday.
After the Schaefers and Jakubeks retired from organizing the event, the Festival Of Lights committee took over coordinating it in 2021.
As best recollection, since it began, there have been only two years the FOL event has not taken place with one due cold and wet conditions and the other in 2020 being cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
The FOL committee, along with a number of volunteers, have been busily decorating the Courthouse with thousands of Christmas lights, yard art and tinsel to have it ready for Saturday.
On Saturday, the annual lighting of over 300,000 lights will be turned on ringing in the Christmas season and the lights will glow each night until Jan. 5.
The strings of lights spiraling around the courthouse as well as the vast array of decorations placed around the historic building has brought a lot of notoriety to Hallettsville and Lavaca County.
During the nights throughout the Christmas season, travelers driving into Hallettsville from all four directions can see the lighted courthouse from miles away
It has truly become a lasting tradition.
Schedule of Events
• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Artisan, food and drink vendors will be open.
• Noon to 6 p.m. – Music provided by Doc Welby and Chris Rybak.
• Noon to 4 p.m. – Santa and Mrs. Claus at the courthouse to visit with the young, and the young at heart
• Noon to 4 p.m. – Kid Zone with a petting zoo and games available.
• 2 p.m.– On Pointe Dance performance.
• 4 p.m. – Awards and photos to be taken on the main stage of the winners of the ornament contest.
• 6 p.m. – Live Nativity Pageant.
• 6:45 p.m. – Lighting extravaganza where the lights will be turned on and around the Lavaca County Courthouse.
• 7:15 p.m. – Lighted parade taking a route around the courthouse square.
“Celebrate with us our past and enjoy our present so that you might catch a glimpse of our future while we feel the Peace, envision the Hope, celebrate the Joy, and share the Love of Christmas,” the FOL board said. “We are grateful for the continued community support to keep this event going. We can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday.”