68th annual celebration in the “Christmas City of the High Plains”
WAKEENEY — A cherished tradition continues in WaKeeney, known as “the Christmas City of the High Plains.” WaKeeney lights up the prairie skies with twinkling lights and fresh greenery and garlands during the holidays. This annual tradition began in 1950 and is considered one of the largest displays between Kansas City and Denver.
Each November WaKeeney is magically transformed into a holiday wonderland. A magnificent handmade, 35-foot tree of fresh greenery rests under a canopy of heavenly blue lights in the middle of the main downtown intersection. A four-square block area around the tree is draped with garlands, handcrafted decorations, and more twinkling lights.
The original idea was born in 1948 by two local businessmen. Art Keraus, the owner of the local hardware store and “a man who could build anything,” teamed up with Jake Heckman, the local banker and artist, to design the original Christmas display. The first display went up in 1950 and more decorations were added each year until 1956. These decorations are still used today.
Today the City of WaKeeney employees get the decorations ready to be put up. Many man hours go into preparing the display for the tree raising. Workers spend approximately two weeks preparing the display and putting it up. Then right before the lighting ceremony, City employees and employees from several local utility companies use their bucket trucks to assemble the large tree and put up the final decorations. Many volunteers have donated hundreds of hours through the years, which has become a source of pride for the community. The Christmas “Tree” is a tribute to the will and cooperation of our local residents.
A new addition this year are the LED Color-Changing Perimeter Lights which were installed in the past month. Funds for these lights were raised through the “Get Lit” Campaign in 2018. We would like to thank Dane G. Hansen Foundation for a grant to help with the purchase of the lights. We would also like to thank the City of WaKeeney for allowing the city employees to install the lights as well as donating the utility costs and Nex-Tech for donating the wifi monthly charges. We also owe a lot of gratitude to the local community for supporting our campaign through purchasing t-shirts and donating to the campaign. These lights replaced the original perimeter lights which were destroyed in the August 2017 hail storm. The perimeter lights will be lit year-round and feature thousands of colors and combinations. Plans are to highlight holidays and special events throughout the year.
For the 68th year, WaKeeney will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 24.
10 am-4 pm, 18th Annual Christmas Bazaar, Trego County Fairgrounds
10am-Noon & 1-4 pm, Festival of Nativities, Trego County Historical Society Museum
4pm, Ticket Booth Opens, What Knot’s in Pine, 126 N. Main, FREE Tickets to visit Santa Claus or ride the VR “Santa’s Sleigh”
4:30 pm, Benefit Soup Supper, VFW Hall by the VFW Auxiliary
4:30-5:45 pm Live Music by Gypsy Kansas, The Studio 128
5-9 pm experience a thrilling ride on “Santa’s Sleigh”. This “Virtual Reality In Motion” ride is provided by JNT Co. from Manhattan, KS. The ride is free, courtesy of WaKeeney Travel & Tourism.
5-8 pm, “Santa’s Downtown Workshop”. Area businesses will be hosting crafts, games, snacks and drinks for the kids while they wait to visit Santa or ride the VR InMotion “Santa’s Sleigh” ride.
6 pm gather round the tree for the Lighting Ceremony. Everyone has been waiting in anticipation for the arrival of Santa Claus. Isaiah Fabrizius will lead the crowd in Christmas carols around the tree as Santa arrives to flip the switch. After lighting the tree, Santa Claus will visit with all the children and listen to their Christmas wishes. All the children will receive special treats from Santa.
6:30-8 pm, Live Music, The Studio 128
Carriage Rides by Big Creek Horse & Carriage after the Tree Lighting courtesy of Solutions North Bank
Barbershop Concert, VFW Hall, after the Tree Lighting sponsored by the Trego Arts Council
The holiday display remains lit through New Years and is free to the public. For more information, please contact Toll Free at (877)962-7248; (785)743-8325; www.wakeeney.org; or on Facebook.
— Submitted