All Bluffton Icon News

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The Pandora United Methodist Church Choir will be presenting their Christmas Cantata "Season of Praise" written by Joseph M. Martin on Sunday, December 8 at 9:30 a.m. during the worship service.

The church service and refreshments after are open to the public. The choir is directed by Pat Basinger and accompanied by Pat Michel. The church is located on State Route 12 at 108 E Washington Street in Pandora. 

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Click photos to enter Gallery mode and view at your own pace.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

For Bluffton’s 2024 Blaze of Lights festival and parade, it seemed like a little North Pole weather drifted south to Ohio on November 30. But most folks were bundled up and prepared to handle temps in the mid-20s.

The Blaze of Lights is steeped in tradition–including parade narration and recitation of the Christmas story by the Town Crier (Kevin Gratz), music including the Bluffton High School Show Choir, a big, dynamic parade with float competition and the lighting of the Ream Folk Art display at Main and Cherry streets.

The event is also spiced with a handful of innovations each year. For 2024, there was a new house for Santa, Mrs. Claus and their guests in the alley across from the Ream Folk Art Display. An Allen County Regional Transit trolley provided rides to see more holiday lights. The parade’s grand marshal was Bluffton’s first Olympian, Trevor Bassitt–who ran the 400m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. ▶︎

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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 301 N. Main St., Jenera, will hold special Advent services on the first three Wednesdays in December, each beginning at 7:00 p.m. 

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Amidst the excitement of Bluffton's Blaze of Lights festivities, this elegant celebration can be found in the window of Studio Silhouette. It makes us wonder, has the Blaze ever been the setting for a human-scale wedding?

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PHOTOS by James Crawfis / Click photo to open gallery viewer

By Cort Reynolds

WAPAKONETA __ The Bluffton High School football team had its highly successful 2024 season ended in the Div. VI state semifinals by Coldwater 28-6 on a cold and windy at Wapakoneta’s Harmon Field on November 29.

Bluffton finished its historic season with a 13-2 record after the defeat.

Coldwater advanced to the state finals at 14-1 with the win. Their only loss came to multiple-time defending state champion Marion Local (15-0).

The Cavaliers advance to play perennial power Kirtland Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m. in Canton’s Tom Benson Stadium. Kirtland defeated Galion Northmor in their state semifinal Friday at Minerva, 41-7.

Bluffton received the opening kickoff, but their initial drive was derailed at the 45 by a bad snap that lost nine yards. After a very short punt in the snow, Coldwater took over at the Cavalier 43. 

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MEET OR MAIL SANTA
Yes, it is true. New this year to Bluffton Blaze of Lights is a new house for Santa, and a mailbox for letters to Santa!

Thanks to a number of businesses and individuals, Santa will have a new home this year. His house will be complete with a mailbox for your kids write a letter to Santa. Please include your return address, drop the letter and Santa will reply to their letter.

The mailbox will be up until Christmas, so if you forget your letter on the night of the Blaze of Lights, you can drop off your letters at a later time.

BLAZE OF LIGHTS SCHEDULE - November 30. 2024

All Day - Restaurants and Shops Are Open

4:00 p.m. 

  • Food and Drinks on Vine St.
  • Food at Bluffton Senior Center

 

5:00 p.m. - Blaze of Lights Parade (Followed by Entertainment on Main St.)

  • Grand Marshal Trevor Bassitt

6:00 p.m. 

  • Visit with Santa (Alley between Edward Jones and Sielschott, Walsh, Keifer & Regula, CPAs)
  • Ride the RTA Trolley (Board on Church St. at Samuel Diller Law Office)
  • Ride The Romick Railway (Board at Main St and Vine St)

 

6:30 p.m. - Lighting Ceremony Reading of The Christmas Story Lighting of the Ream Display

7:00 p.m. - The After Blaze on Vine St.

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