Carol of Lights to bring sights, sounds of Christmas to historic downtown Bonham Dec. 1

Santa Claus will make his first appearance of the Christmas season in Bonham Tuesday, December 1 at the inaugural event of the holidays in historic downtown Bonham, the Carol of Lights.

The jolly, old fellow will have plenty of company, too.

Spurred on by a determined committee, Carol of Lights is shaping up to be a rewarding collaboration of the City of Bonham, Fannin County employees, Creative Arts Center, Chi Lambda service organization and countless volunteers with their heart set on bringing the holiday spirit to the heart of their city.

Carol of Lights will feature school choirs, church bell choirs, a candle lighting ceremony and then Santa will have the honors of hitting the switch that turns on the Christmas lights around the Bonham Square. Children will have a chance to visit with Santa to see if he has them on his "Naughty" or "Nice" list.

Afterward, everyone is invited to tour the Creative Arts Center Garden where another group of volunteers has been hard at work decorating and installing approximately 50,000 lights. Just walk one block west on 5th Street and turn right on Willow Street to enter the colorfully decorated garden.

"What we are trying to do is revitalize downtown," remarked Carol of Lights Committee chairperson Kristi Taylor. "This is the heart of our city. We will award prizes to the best decorated windows in downtown Bonham and we are trying to convince as many merchants as possible to stay open for the event."

Edward Jones Investments is all decorated for Carol of Lights.

"This is certainly an energetic group of ladies," Bonham City Manager Corby Alexander said of the Carol of Lights Committee, "and it's one of the most productive committees I've ever worked with."

So bring the family, bring a friend, bring the neighbors, and bring a song in your heart and a prayer of peace on Earth and good will towards all God's children. Come usher in the Christmas season Tuesday evening in downtown Bonham with your friends, old and new. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. on the southeast corner of the Fannin County Courthouse.

Edward Jones Investments is all decorated for Carol of Lights.

Downtown Bonham will be filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas when the families arrive Tuesday evening

Joe Howdeshell lends a hand.

More bows! Somewhere underneath all those bows is Carol of Lights chairperson Kristi Taylor.

Need a hand putting a bow on that new wreath? No problem for the Bonham Fire Department.

(l-r) Bonham City Manager Corby Alexander and Bonham Mayor Roy Floyd discuss Carol of Lights as a Bonham fireman starts up the ladder to decorate a large wreath near the top of the Fannin County Courthouse.

Bonham fireman Scott Ridling makes a difficult task look easy.

Perfect!

What we're trying to do is revitalize downtown," stated Carol of Lights chairperson Kristi Taylor. "This is the heart of our city."

(l-r) Rodney Kemper, Jeff Hamby and Kay Carrel install colorful panels on the stage in the Creative Arts Center Garden.

Kay Carrel makes sure all the decorations at Creative Arts Center are ready for the crowd Tuesday night.

This peaceful Nativity scene is graced by the evening sun.

The spectacular W.W. Brownlee Home (est. 1872) is one of many impressive historic homes in Bonham.