It was a beautiful evening in the Chestnut Street District for the first ever “Bright” Friday Lighting Ceremony and Competition in Downtown Hays.  For the first year community members got to enjoy winter dance entertainment from Jackie Creamers the Dance Studio, sip hot chocolate and coffee from Cervs Main Stop, meet Chilly the Penguin from the Hays Public Library, see surprise guests, Santa & Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and Frosty and help Mayor Barb Wasinger light the tree at Union Pacific Park.

During the evening community members were asked to vote for the “Brightest Building” in Downtown Hays.  With help from Nex-Tech Wireless patrons could stroll through downtown and vote by text.  The winner of the 2011 “Brightest Building” is the Paisley Pear!  In second place was Crystal Memories followed closely by Bella Luna Boutique.

The event was hosted by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation and sponsored by Eagle Communications, with addition to Wal-Mart’s donation of new lights for the tree.  Supporting sponsorship was from Emprise Bank and Midwest Energy. A big thanks goes out to the City of Hays for their help hanging the lights and decorations, Tom’s Music House for providing the use of the sound system and the Paisley Pear and Midwest Energy for building our Tree Lighting Box!

Enjoy the magic of lights during the rest of FrostFest in Historic Downtown Hays. Join us for December Thursday Carriage Rides from 5-7pm and the 11th Annual Illuminated Parade where you will get “Swept up in Snowflakes” on Saturday, December 3rd starting at 5:30pm.