“Christmas in the Park” Goes Live Wednesday Night
Once again, thanks to expert planning and, at times, “arm twisting”, Jill Hissom, director of the Barnesville Chamber, has worked magic!
This is the fourth year for the Barnesville Memorial Park display. During the past three years, the display has grown as more families, businesses and organizations have stepped up adding more attractions to the eclectic array of lighted attractions along the main park circle drive.
This year, the entry at the park and lights will feature a four-section lighted arch, or tunnel, over the roadway.
According to Hissom, “last year, the Chamber was awarded a grant from South Central Power“ to add something exciting to the displays.
Time was too short to get the project underway in 2024.
Early in 2025, Hissom contacted Rodney Wells, of Rod’s Weld and Rebuild, to see if they would be interested in taking on the job.
Continuing, Hissom said, “When you deal with Rodney, you know it’s either go big or go home… I was beyond amazed, surprised, flabbergasted when Rodney called me to come and check out the arch. Rodney and his crew worked endless hours creating this for our community to enjoy”.
In addition to the grant from South Central Power, the project was supported by Village Hardware and Rental, Braido Memorials and William Knox, CPA.
Now referred to as a “tunnel”, it needed lights. A grant from the Barnesville Community Foundation and Woodsfield Savings Bank stepped in as did Travis Kaiser who volunteered to hang the lights in the tunnel
Finally, returning to the village of Barnesville, another $1,000 for more lights was approved by the council at the Nov. 24 meeting.
Of the final product, a beaming Hissom said, “I am super excited to share our new display at Christmas in the Park”.
The light switch will be flipped Wednesday night at 6 p.m. and the free display will be lighted nightly through January 2.
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