Santa’s Shining Light Show kicks off in Charles City Central Park Saturday evening

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The lights will be bright Saturday in Charles City as the second annual Santa’s Shining Lights Show sets Central Park aglow with Christmas displays and the sky over downtown is filled with a fireworks show.

Santa’s Shining Lights Show is a project of the Charles City Satellite Rotary Club, and offers businesses and organizations an opportunity to show their creativity and holiday spirit by putting up lighted Christmas displays in the downtown city park.

The fireworks show is a project of Main Street Charles City.

The Main Street bridge will be closed from Court Street to Riverside Drive, from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Saturday, for J&M Displays of Iowa to set up and shoot off the fireworks show at 7 p.m.

Santa’s Shining Lights will begin in Central Park with food trucks gathering at 4:30 p.m. Expected to be included are A Shred Above serving cheesy treats and soups, and The Shiver N’ Squirrel, serving hot mini doughnuts, hot soft pretzels, smoked chili and gourmet hot cocoa.

The Central Park displays will be turned on in a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Mrs. Claus is also expected to be available in the Santa House in the middle of Central Park beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The lights will also be on at Memory Lane in Sherman Park across from Otto’s Oasis along the Cedar River, organized by Sean and Cheri Schweinfurth. The lights are sponsored by individuals, families and organizations in memory of loved ones.

This is the second year for the Satellite Rotary Club’s Santa’s Shining Lights Show, an event organized to boost the holiday spirit and as a fundraiser for the club to support its community activities and donations.

The displays will be lighted from Saturday, Nov. 26, though the end of the year.

The Charles City Satellite Rotary Club is an offshoot of the traditional club for those who wanted to be part of the group but are unable to make it to or want something different from the regular Monday noon lunch meetings.