Lighted drive-thru planned for Dec. 4
By Tracy Ouellette
With a bit of inspiration and the help of several area organizations, Walworth County will have a new holiday event this season.
The Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Walworth County and the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank have embarked on a countywide mission to ignite the magic of the upcoming holiday season.
Let It Glow, a 1/2-mile drive-thru festival of lights will be at the Walworth County Fairgrounds Dec. 4, with more than 20 whimsical holiday stations, music and cheer. The event will also feature a Santa Station where children can wave to the jolly man in red and hand their letter to one of Santa’s elves to be taken straight to the North Pole.
The event will kick off after the annual Christmas Card Town Tree Lighting on the downtown square in Elkhorn.
“Normally, Santa would light the tree with a special tree lighter, but this year he will have two special elves, who are representatives of the Let It Glow event, who will light the tree and then take Santa’s carriage to the fairgrounds to light Let It Glow,” said Chris Clapper, executive director of the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce.
While viewed as a Christmas gift to Walworth County by the organizers, everyone is welcome to attend.
“We’re not turning anyone away,” said Tammy Dunn, executive director for the United Way of Walworth County. “We’re not checking drivers licenses and we’re hoping to grow this in future years to more than one-day. So, yes, all are welcome.”
How it happened
The new event was created to provide people with a safe, holiday experience and bring a little joy to a troubled world.
“Due to the current climate of COVID-19, some are left wondering what our holidays will be filled with,” Dunn said. “Maryann Zimmerman, general manager of the Walworth County Food and Diaper Bank approached me with her idea to provide extra cheer for the community this year, and I knew the chamber was rethinking their event on the square in consideration of COVID-19.
“For years, I imagined a lighted drive-thru festival at the fairgrounds and this seemed the perfect time to join forces. Let It Glow will be a real win for all of Walworth County including the performers, area nonprofits, the business community, and our families.”
Dunn said Zimmerman really wanted to do something to encourage families this year.
“She wanted to do something just to inspire families this Christmas,” Dunn said. “It’s been such a rough year, for everyone, but she’s seen it more than most of us. The need at the food pantry has doubled.
“She (Zimmerman) wanted a Santa with a mailbox and to hand out presents or something like that and I shared it with Chris (Clapper) and she said, ‘That’s what I do!’ and we got to talking and I told her how I always envisioned a lighted drive-thru at the fairgrounds, it’s the perfect spot for it,” Dunn said.
Clapper contacted the fairgrounds general manager, Larry Gaffey, and he was all for it.
“Chris is such good friends with Larry and they said, ‘Absolutely! We’ll support it,” Dunn said. “What a great partnership for something like this!”
Join in the fun
The event has several ways to be included. Businesses can choose from five sponsorship levels, families can sponsor and decorate a Glow Tree to be displayed along Balsam Boulevard, groups can sign up to build a display or entertain the audience with one of Glow Station stops along the route, and volunteers can sign up to help behind the scenes.
Build a station
People have the opportunity to create a display that shows off a business, organization or group. Applicants will have a 20-by-10-foot space to be utilized as a Glow Stop along the Let It Glow parade route.
“Of course we want all the school groups, the choirs, the bands, dance groups and other organizations to participate in this, but we’re also hoping this will grow into something local businesses can showcase who they are and what they do,” Dunn said. “I envision this down the road becoming something all the great companies we have in Walworth County can use to show off their businesses.”
Participants will have access to the fairgrounds Dec 4 at 8 a.m. and must complete their Glow Stop by 6 p.m.
A limited number of spots are available and they will be issued on a first-come basis. Application deadline is Nov. 20, or until all spots are filled. Organizers ask that projects do not begin until a space has been confirmed as there are limited spots.
Family glow tree
People may also create a tree to represent their family and the joy shared for the season of giving, or in memory of a loved one. It will be one of 50 trees displayed along Balsam Boulevard.
Volunteer
Volunteers of all ages are invited to join in the production. Organizers are seeking involvement from community members who would be interested in volunteering either in the background, or front and center “playing the part” and sharing their talents with the drive-thru audience.
“While our committee can administrate the event, we need help breathing life into the animation of Let It Glow,” Clapper said. “The fairgrounds are the perfect venue for this event and we hope to make it a tradition families in Walworth County can look forward to for many years to come.”
The event will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, immediately following Elkhorn Chamber’s Annual Tree Lighting on the downtown square. There will be no cost to drive through the fairgrounds.
More information on participation can be found on the Facebook event page, or by calling the Elkhorn Chamber at 262-723-5788, United Way at 262-374-4474 or Walworth County Food Pantry at 262-723-4488.
