This holiday season, Pella’s downtown square will shine brighter than before with the addition of new tree-wrap lights recently donated to the City of Pella by Spirit of Pella donors.
During a vacation to Vienna several years ago, Jason Bandstra was impressed by many holiday lighting displays he observed. Bandstra, a board member who chairs Spirit of Pella’s Lighting Committee, has since played a key role in imagining how to expand the community’s downtown holiday lighting strategy.
“When we got home and drove through Pella we thought there just weren’t enough Christmas lights and wondered how we could bring more European-inspired holiday spirit here to Pella. We imagined making holiday lights for our winter tulips,” Bandstra said.
Seeing couples propose and families gather for Christmas card photos under the lights has been especially meaningful for Bandstra. Wrapping four large trees on the east side and two on the west will illuminate more of Central Park this holiday season, further enhancing an inviting, festive atmosphere for photos and gatherings.
Pella Fiber teamed up with Spirit of Pella last year to offer residents and visitors free holiday photos under the Tunnel of Lights which was also donated to the community by Spirit of Pella donors. Pella Fiber’s Director of Telecommunications Doy Ousley and Local Programming Coordinator Monte Goodyk have been engaged with the downtown lighting for several years.
“Last year alone, we took nearly 1,800 free digital photos under the Tunnel of Lights on Thanksgiving weekend, from family portraits and costumed pets to holiday cards,” Ousley said.
Pella Fiber and Spirit of Pella will partner again to provide outdoor warming stations, seating, free hot cocoa, the BreadBoard food truck, and holiday music, all adding to Pella’s newest winter season tradition.
Community members and visitors are invited to the Tunnel of Lights in Pella’s Central Park from 6-8 p.m. on November 30 and December 1 where Goodyk will shoot professional digital photos on a first-come, first-served basis each night. Images will be available to download from a website the following week.
