LEWISBURG — The Village of Lewisburg and Lewisburg Community Association held their annual Light Up the Park event on Sunday, Dec. 6.
Holiday-themed lighting displays came on at 6 p.m. in Lewisburg Community Park. The unveiling of the elaborate Christmas decorations was accompanied by a $3,000 fireworks display which was also sponsored by the village and members of the Community Association.
Though the event would typically have featured food, live music, and a parade ferrying Santa Claus from near Tri-County North High School to the park, the festivities were a bit simpler this year, with residents being asked to park at the Lewisburg Community Center and stay near their vehicles during the lighting and fireworks show.
Businesses in downtown Lewisburg held an open house between noon and about 5 p.m. on Sunday, meanwhile, with Santa and his elves walking around and greeting residents and patrons.
The Light Up the Park event typically features a much smaller fireworks display, according to Community Association president and village council member Mark Madigan.
“But since everything’s been canceled this year, we decided to up it,” Madigan said. “People haven’t been able to do anything since March, so we wanted to give them something. We wanted to step it up a little.”
This year’s Derby Days festival was canceled, according to Madigan, along with block parties usually held the first Friday of each month during summer and fall.
The Community Association was responsible for building the Tri-County North stadium and football field in the 80s, according to Madigan, and also used to run the Lewisburg Haunted Cave. More recently they built the Community Center, which they also help maintain, in addition to hosting Bingo games and auctions during most years.
The Light Up the Park event was also sponsored by the Broughton family. Herschel Broughton, Jr., who owns the Lewisburg Service Center, asked that the fireworks display be dedicated to his father, who passed away in April.
“Herschel is always very, very helpful in terms of doing anything the town needs,” Madigan said of Broughton, who raised “close to a quarter” of the $24,000 brought in by last year’s Derby Days festival.
Madigan said that serving the community is a tradition in the Broughton family.
“Their dad used to do what they’re doing now. He was a great supporter of the town,” Madigan said. “He taught his sons the auto repair business, and to support the community.”
