PARADE APPLICATION FORM CLICK HERE

RESIDENTIAL LIGHTS CONTEST FORM CLICK HERE

The 24th annual Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce Blaze of Lights is Saturday, Nov. 27. Here is the latest information about this year's festival.

Blaze morning extravaganza - Saturday, Nov. 27
The year's Blaze starts with its first-ever Blaze of Lights Morning Extravaganza from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 27, at The Centre, 601 N. Main St.

This event is open to the public and offers opportunities for businesses and organizations to sell holiday products. The morning event will include a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

In addition, a holiday bake sale fund-raiser is planned. The chamber has an open invitation to community groups or clubs interested in helping to plan the bake sale. The chamber will share proceeds with the group. There will also be a silent auction with donated items from Bluffton businesses.

A children's magic show will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Admission is $1. There will be free face painting, a children's fishing pond and holiday storytelling. The Centre will sell doughnuts, coffee and juice. Several additional events are still in the planning stages.

"This is a great opportunity for area businesses to sell their merchandise ahead of the holidays," said Steiner. "We hope to have a captive Thanksgiving weekend crowd."

Main Street windows judged Saturday morning
On Blaze Saturday will be the Main Street retail district holiday window decorating contest. Businesses do not need to enter. All businesses will be judged. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. Saturday. Businesses are encouraged to decorate windows based on this year's Blaze theme: "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas." Prizes include a $50 pizza party from Luke's Bar and Grill for the first place window. Ribbons and certificates will be presented to the
second and third place window.

State Route 103 decorating contest
In its second year is a separate contest for businesses on State Route 103, starting at Colonial Surface Solutions all the way to the Interstate 75 overpass. Three winners will be chosen. Winners will receive ribbons and certificates. State Route 103 judging takes place on Friday evening, Dec. 3.

Entertainment
Entertainment downtown will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. and following the parade until 7 p.m. when the Blaze of Lights are turned on. The Bluffton High School show choir is scheduled to perform at 6:30 p.m. Other groups will be announced as soon as they respond to the chamber's invitation.

Parade
This year's parade will form at 4 p.m. in The Centre parking lot. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. A first, second and third prize will be awarded to the top floats. Each winner will receive a trophy. Judging will take place at The Centre parking lot. Float winners will be announced during the parade. Parade entry forms are in an attachment at the bottom of this story.

According to Junior Weihrauch, parade coordinator, nearly 40 units have pre-registered for the parade. This is a higher number of pre-registrations compared to last year at this time, according to Weihrauch. Persons wanting to be part of the parade may contact Weihrauch, 20791 State Route 68, Arlington, Ohio 45814, or call him at 419-365-5304.

The deadline for signing up to participate in the parade is Wednesday, Nov. 17. The parade route travels Main Street from The Centre to College Avenue.

Food
Bluffton Lions Club will offer a chicken barbecue from 4 to 7 p.m. on Blaze night. Meals are available at the elementary school. Meals may be picked up or eaten at the school. Tickets are now on sale from any Lion member.

Bluffton Senior Citizens will offer their traditional Blaze supper. The chamber asks other organizations planning to offer flood to contact the chamber at [email protected] so that those groups may be listed in future Blaze publicity.

Parade marshals and "light switch person"
Two former Bluffton Scoutmasters, Richard Cookson and Richard Weaver, are this year's parade marshals. In addition, several other Bluffton scoutmasters will ride in a float. This is the 100th year for scouting. Larry Core, former village administrator, who is active in several local organizations, will turn on the Ream lights at 7 p.m.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be in the Blaze parade. Following the parade, they will meet with youth of all ages at the Senior Citizens Center.

Horse and wagon rides and pony rides
Weis Royal Carriages of Elida will provide horse and wagon rides on the night of the Blaze. This is the only night that those rides will be offered. Rides will start at the conclusion of the Blaze parade and will continue during the evening. Departure point for the rides is on East Elm Street at the town hall. Tickets for horse and wagon rides are $4 for persons 11 and older and $2 for youth 10 and under. Children who can sit on an adult lap have no charge.

Tickets will be sold at the front entrance of the town hall. Ticket sales will begin during the parade.

New this year, weather permitting, will be pony rides for youth, provided by Hickle Pony Rides, Mt. Blanchard. Pony rides will be available in mid-afternoon to early evening. Times will be confirmed soon.

The gift of Giving light show extravaganza
In its third season, the Gift of giving light show extravaganza will take place again across from Harmon Field stadium on East College Avenue. This year, the show will be viewed during the Blaze of Lights each evening from 6 to 11 p.m. from Nov. 27 through Jan. 1, 2011. Based upon last year's attendance, it is anticipated to attract an audience of over 5,000.

Bluffton Baptist Church live nativity
The Bluffton Baptist Church will hold its annual live nativity during Blaze night from 7 to 9 p.m. in the church parking lot, 345 County Line Road. An additional showing will take place in December. That date will be announced soon.

Residential decorating contest
Any resident within the Village of Bluffton corporation limits may enter the residential contest. Four prizes will be awarded:
o Best theme (Holly, Jolly Christmas)
o Best light display
o Best religious display
o Best general decoration
Judging will take place Friday evening, Dec. 3. Each winner will receive a sign to be placed on their lawn, indicating their award. In addition, each winner will receive a $50 Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificate. Persons interested in having their decorations judged may enter using the form at the bottom of this story.

Volunteers needed in Ream display set up
Terry Mullenhour is in charge of seeing that the Ream holiday folk art display is set up in the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn.

The cutouts will be set in place on Saturday morning, Nov. 13. Volunteers interested in helping may contact Mullenhour at 419-358-0458 or may show up to help on either Saturday morning. Three groups have already agreed to assist. They include youth from St. Mary's Catholic Church and members of the Bluffton boys' fifth and sixth grade basketball teams.

Pre-Blaze calendar
Nov. 6 - Electrical set-up for the Blaze of Lights (Jan. 8, 2011 - display take down)
Ream Holiday Folk Art Display will be shown nightly from Nov. 27 to the evening of Jan. 1, 2011.
Nov. 13 - Ream display set-up
Nov. 13 - Fire department will install garlands on Main Street (Nov. 20, rain date)

Other events? Please contact the chamber
Several other holiday-related events take place in Bluffton. The chamber asks persons in charge of those activities to contact Fred Steiner, 419-889-3065, or [email protected]. All holiday activities will be included in chamber publicity.