The annual lighting of the Gage County Courthouse is scheduled for this weekend. This will be the 37th year the lights will shine during the holiday season. A lighting ceremony will begin this Sunday evening at 5:25.

Lights committee co-chairperson Nora Zimmerman encourages area residents to attend the annual lighting event.

“Anybody that does come and want to bring their lawn chairs and blankets and whatever makes them comfortable. We are looking that if we have nice weather will have a real nice turnout.”

The first year of lights only featured the very top part of the courthouse outlined with lights. Since that time more lights were added on the building and to the trees on the courthouse lawn.

The courthouse lighting was a vision of Beatrice resident J-T Thornburg who passed way in October of 2023.

Co-Chairperson of the lights committee Steph Perkins says the early dream of Thornburg has become a reality.

“He truly had a lot of connections and a lot of relationships that he established over all those years. And those are the kinds of things that help make things like this successful.”

The Sunday evening program will include Christmas music performed by the Homestead Harmonizers and a visit by Santa Claus.