Dial up the holiday cheer: Light Up Moses Lake is back
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 2 months AGO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | November 12, 2021 1:07 AM
MOSES LAKE — Light Up Moses Lake returns for a second year of holiday lights, fun, and fundraising for a good cause.
The Second Annual Light Up Moses Lake is the day after the 26th Annual Downtown Moses Lake Agricultural Parade & Street Party, and people with parade entries can park their floats at the fairgrounds Dec. 4. Businesses and nonprofit organizations also can set up tents and decorations at the fairgrounds that night.
Pretty lights are only part of Light Up Moses Lake — organizers will collect donations of money, toys and food for local charities.
For 2021, the beneficiaries will be New Hope/Kids Hope, which helps victims of abuse, rape and domestic violence; the Boys & Girls Clubs of The Columbia Basin and Moses Lake Senior Opportunity and Services, which supports the Moses Lake Senior Center, Meals on Wheels and other senior programs. The Moses Lake Food Bank will receive food donations.
Dropoff locations will be at Sinkiuse Square and at the fairgrounds Dec. 4 for donations of money, along with donations of new and unwrapped toys and cans, and boxes and bags of nonperishable food.
Light Up Moses Lake in 2020 generated $8,954 in donations, including support from sponsors, partners and Moses Lake residents. The food bank received a check for $2,859 and 1,396 pounds of food, worth $2,443. The Community & Family Services Foundation, which works with children in foster care, received $2,859 and a substantial donation of toys and gifts. The Habitat for Humanity of Greater Moses Lake Festival of Trees received $2,876.
People are invited to see the holiday lights from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Drive NE.
In addition to the fairgrounds display, Light Up Moses Lake organizers will sponsor a lighting contest for businesses, homes and the stationary floats and tents at the fairgrounds promoting their businesses.
Business owners and residents can enter at the organization’s website, www.lightupmoseslake.com. The cost per entry is $25 and the deadline is Nov. 22, and entries are $25.
First-place winners in each category will receive tickets for a family of four to Journey to the North Pole cruise and a one-night stay at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.
People can vote for their favorite displays at www.lightupmoseslake.com from Dec. 4 through Dec. 12. Winners will be announced the week of Dec. 13. Those who vote online will be entered into a random drawing for a gift basket.
An interactive map of the lighting contest entries will be available online. A map also will be printed in the Columbia Basin Herald prior to Dec. 4, and copies will be available at both donation drop off locations on Dec. 4.
Light Up Moses Lake is the work of a group of local businesses wanting to do something to brighten the holiday season and include the Columbia Basin Herald, the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, the city of Moses Lake, the Downtown Moses Lake Association, Moses Lake LEAD and the Grant County Fairgrounds.
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