Pacific Candlelighters

Holiday Lighting Program

Pacific Candlelighters develop programs that build on community interestsand give others an opportunity to participate. The holiday lighting program is an example.

Under this program, city residents were encouraged to put a special effort into their exterior lighting for the holidays, then publicize their effort by registering their home lighting display with the Candlelighters. Locations actively participating in the holiday program were eligible for special recognition.

This season there were three awards for outstanding displays: The Fire Department Award, Police Department Award, and City Council Award.

But no-one had to feel obligated to compete for an award. Everyone in town was encouraged to fill in a form and give it to Glenda White at the Pacific post office, or mail it to:

Union Station Gift Shop
PO Box 256
Pacific WA 98047

Volunteers who wanted to help were encouraged to drop by.

Opening Ceremony: Candlelighters kicked off the celebration with an opening ceremony at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 2, at New Hope Lutheran Church, 603 Third Ave. SE. Santa attended to light the Christmas tree.

DISPLAYS 2000. Go here for information on this year's and last year's lighting displays.

APPLICATION FORM Open a page with a Holiday Lighting Program application form.

For more information, read about the 1999 program, below.  

Home Lighting Display Locations

101 Glacier Ct. SW
317 Third Ave. SE
410 Third Ave. SE **
719 3rd Place SE
108 4th Ave. SW
101 Milwaukee Blvd. S.
117 Milwaukee Blvd. S. *
212 Milwaukee Blvd. S.
111 Third Ave. NE
117 Third Ave. NW
342 White River Drive *

Awards for outstanding holiday lighting displays in Pacific have been announced by Glenda White, chair of the Candlelighters lighting display committee.

There were four categories of awards, from the mayor's office, the police department, fire department and from citizens. The police and mayor's award announcements remain pending.

Pacific Candlelighters took steps to generate a better sense of community and feed the hungry this holiday season with a coordinated holiday lighting event. The aim is to have as many people as possible turn on their holiday lighting together. (See South County Journal article.)

The fire department awards were:

• 1st Place: 117 Milwaukee Blvd. South
• 2nd Place: 324 White River Drive
• 3rd Place: 410 3rd Ave SE

The Peoples Choice Award, based on votes cast by viewers, went to:

• 410 - 3rd Ave SE

In conjunction with the lighting displays, residents were encouraged to donate toys and food items to the Algona-Pacific Food Pantry at New Hope Lutheran Church, 603 Third SE, Pacific.

As part of this effort to benefit the less fortunate, Pacific's Christmas Ball also benefitted the hungry by allowing attendees to donate an item of non-perishable food in lieu of the normal $5 entry fee. The dance was held Friday, Dec. 10, 8-11 p.m. at the Pacific Ballroom, 100 Third Ave. SE.

Prime mover behind the event was Glenda White, the Pacific postmistress and a member of the steering committee of Pacific Candlelighters. Glenda worked with Tom Peterson and Connie Kiyonaga to plan the Holiday Lighting event and distribute fliers promoting it.

The philosophy behind the program is that a person who displays holiday lighting "is sending a cheerful message of friendship and hope to everyone who can see those lights."

White and other participants in the Holiday Lighting Program invited everyone who lives or works in Pacific to attend the official kick-off of the lighting program, held, Dec. 4, at New Hope Lutheran.

Although there ware four award categories for holiday lighting, the Pacific Candlelighters encourage all residents to participate regardless of the extent of their display—whether it be 7,000 lights or a single candle glimmering in the window.

The intention was to have Pacific residents prepare to greet the 21st Century with a positive spirit of community, and to build new friendships among our residents.

For more information about Candlelighters, please feel free to peruse this Web site, or email smithwri@nwlink.com.