Holiday Lights Festival marks 34 years in Gage County

BEATRICE – The holiday lights at the Gage County Courthouse grounds have come on for the first time this Christmas and New Year’s season.

Sunday night was the 34th annual Holiday Lights Festival……one in which Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann said a new feature is starting this year.
"The Holiday Lights Committee talked about having just one community member who was involved in the community, showed community pride and Christmas spirit all year round...to be Santa's helper in the countdown of the lights."

This year’s first honoree was Patty Kaufmann, of Exmark Manufacturing of Beatrice.

White holiday lights are attached to the county courthouse and surrounding trees with wreaths placed on light poles around the property. This year, Tiemann said a new wreath was placed on the upper level of the courthouse north side….donated by Mark and Kathy Setzer of Setzer Manufacturing….a company that makes outdoor grills.

"They were happy to fabricate, and donate the wreath for the north side of the courthouse, so if Mark and Kathy are here....thank you very much."

The Homestead Harmonizers provided the music for Sunday night’s lights festival, which has become a fixture in the community for more than three decades. An annual soup supper was held by the Christ Church Episcopal west of the courthouse….which for a second year, was a drive-through event.