On November 26, Bluffton will celebrate the 36th annual Blaze of Lights, a longstanding tradition rooted in the ingenuity and creativity of a local farming couple, Harry and Dorothy Ream. This year’s theme for the float competition and downtown business decorations is “A Candyland Christmas.”
The centerpieces of the Blaze celebrations are a 5:00 p.m. parade and the Ream Folk Art Display lighting ceremony featuring the Town Crier. Please note that from year to year some details change. Below is a listing of activities scheduled for 2022.
The Bluffton/Pandora Swiss Community Historical Society Christmas Open House, “Christmas at the Homestead” will be held for two days, December 3 and 4, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at the Schumacher Homestead, located at 8350 Bixel Road, Bluffton.
The public is invited to tour the decorated 1843 house, snack on treats in the summer kitchen and listen to songs of the season. Guests can watch food being prepared in the fireplace, hand dip a candle, play a game of checkers, shop in the gift shop and chat with staff about the history of the house and typical life in the 1840s.
A special Thanksgiving Day service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 24 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 North Main Street, Jenera.
Pastor Bob Krueger from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Findlay, will be the guest Pastor. His sermon theme is “Give Thanks to the Lord” based on 2 Kings 4:38-44.
The Choir will sing “Let All Things Now Living.” Other hymns will be “We Praise You, Oh God," "Now Thank We All Our God," and "For the Fruit of His Creation.” This is the first time the new hymnal "Christian Worship” will be used.
The 36th annual Blaze of Lights holiday celebration is scheduled for Saturday, November 26 in downtown Bluffton, Ohio.
Activities on November 26 include
Small Business Saturday specials at downtown businesses
NEW: Carolers on Main Street prior to the parade
5:00 p.m. - One of the largest holiday parades in the area begins on Snider Rd. and travels up Main to College Ave.
Following the parade, entertainers will perform on the main stage at Main and Cherry; the Christmas story will be read, an honoree will light the Ream display
Santa will visit with children
NEW: Allen County RTA Trolley will provide tours past decorated homes.
NEW: Blaze After Lighting heated tent on Vine St. with refreshments and entertainment
The Blaze After Lighting is a new feature that will open after the lights are turned on at the Bluffton Presbyterian Church yard. It will feature beer, bourbon pours, spiced wine, hot chocolate, food vendors and live jazz music by The Jerry Szabo Trio and The Pinup Project, all under a heated tent on Vine Street.
UPDATE: Please note that reservations for this meeting were due last week.
Annual meeting is part of the November agenda
This article is an excerpt from the Golden Age News for November 2022.
At 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 14, members of the Bluffton Senior Citizens center will enjoy a monthly dinner meeting with a meal catered by Ted's Market and a program provided by local historian Fred Steiner. The emcee will be Deb Beer.
The meal will be shredded beef, scalloped potatoes, green beans, dinner roll and cheese cake.
‘Jaye Bumbaugh and Crows’ opening event 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 17
65 Town Square, Lima
ArtSpace/Lima has announced the display of work by the late Jaye Bumbaugh, who was an artist, teacher and professor at Bluffton University whose work often featured whimsical crows, many of which were centered around stories made up from childhood.
Bumbaugh’s ceramic and printed crows are part of the ‘Lost. Recovered. Reborn.’ exhibition at ArtSpace. His work will be located in the third floor gallery.
