Christmas in July 2019
Is it such a Minnesotan thing that we celebrate Christmas in July, and of course . . many of us relish in it!? We have 3 straight days of 90+ degree weather and many of just instantly think that we are ready to go back to the below zero temperatures that we deal with at Christmas time.….WHAT is wrong with us?? Ha!
If you haven’t heard of the Light Up the Night event hosted by Prairie Home Hospice, I’ll give you a little insight into what it is. Light Up the Night is a Holiday Celebration and Light Show that takes place every weekend evening throughout the month of December. With the help of thousands of volunteers and community sponsors, we decorate Independence Park in Marshall, MN with thousands of lights and decorations. We host different kid friendly events each weekend, try to have live holiday music every weekend, a live nativity scene sponsored by Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, horse drawn carriage rides, trolley rides, hayrides, an outdoor fire to warm up by, and a concession stand with holiday drinks and snacks. The BEST thing about all of this holiday cheer…. It’s all available for a FREE WILL donation!
We initially started Light Up the Night as a way to give back to the community that has supported us so tremendously throughout our 35 years. Our goal is to bring people into this beautiful town with the hopes that they will get gas, go shopping, eat dinner, take in a sporting event, music or theatre production, and just spend some quality time with their friends and families over the holidays in Marshall. However, this event is also a large fundraiser for our organization. We do need to raise significant funds each year to keep this community event alive and growing each year!
We have a variety of ways that anyone can support this event. There are Sponsorship opportunities for businesses, volunteering to decorate, serve on our committee, or help at event nights, promotional booklet ads, or . . . NEW this year, Sponsoring a Community Tree in our “We Grow Together” program. A $50.00 donation is required for a Community Tree. You then get a “Holiday Gift Tag” from our office to claim your tree at the park, and with a few easy list of instructions you’re all set to decorate away with your friends, family, and/or co-workers!! It’s a great way to bring the community together and light up the park even more! Another new opportunity available this year is to host a Team Volunteer night! Sign your work, club, group, organization, or team to volunteer for a night together full of holiday cheer that gives back at the same time! 
Probably are most favorite part of Light Up the Night is our Kick-Off Night! This is the Night you will want to mark on your calendar! Friday, November 29th we will be kicking things off with a lighted parade! The parade starts downtown and ends at Independence Park with our first “lighting of the park” for the season and an incredible, fantastic annual Kick Off Firework Show! We are excited for year THREE of this magical event, and we hope you are too! With that being said, let’s all get back outside and enjoy this perfect, beautiful 70 degree weather that reminds us why they heck we live in this glorious place called Minnesota!
PLEASE, go click interested in our Light Up the Night Facebook Event by clicking on this link below: www.facebook.com/events/357298801610842 So that you can get everything Light Up the Night related and stay up to date on event, volunteer, and activity changes throughout the season!
Don’t forget, LOTS of new things for year THREE! We want everyone to be as excited as we are about this event and everything it brings to this community!
Looking forward to these NEW 2019 Light Up the Night Happenings:
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- Community Tree “We Grow Together” program!
- Team Volunteer Nights!
- MORE LIGHTS!
- NEW DÉCOR!
- Music throughout the park!