Walkway of Lights seeking volunteers
“We still have plenty of spaces available if people are interested,” said Kerri Roberts, chamber events coordinator. “The slots are from 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.”
The Walkway of Lights is an annual Christmas display at Lakeside Park on Lake Marble Falls. The setup includes 35 different scenes, about 100 light sculptures and more than 1 million lights.
The display starts Nov. 21 and runs until Jan. 3. The kickoff and light up parade is Friday at 6 p.m. starting on Main Street before culminating at the entrance to Walkway of Lights, 307 Buena Vista Drive.
Making it a success each year takes plenty of work and volunteers, Roberts said.
“The volunteers are the ones who really help make this special for the visitors,” she said. “The volunteers are the ones who greet the people and ask where they’re from.”
Volunteers also want to know whether the visitors are staying in a local hotel or motel as part of their market research.
Chamber Executive Director Christian Fletcher said last year the event drew 40,000 people during a span of 40 days.
“Of those, a third were from the Highland Lakes area,” he said. “That means two-thirds came from outside the area. Obviously when you have between 20,000-25,000 people coming to the community, it can mean a lot to the local businesses.”
Fletcher said the Chamber is working to find strategies that not only get people to visit the Walkway but also spend time in local stores and restaurants.
“We know we have a great thing going with the Walkway of Lights,” he said. “Now we’re trying to use it to encourage people to stay and shop here.”
Roberts said one way of getting people from outside the Highland Lakes to try the local stores and restaurants is through simple invitations extended by the volunteers working at the Walkway of Lights. “I think for a lot of people this may not be a destination but drive across the (US 281) bridge and (they) decide to check it out,” she said. “It would only take a little encouragement to get them to visit some of our stores and shops as well.”
Volunteers can be individuals, groups or businesses, chamber officials said.
“You can have a lot of fun,” Roberts said, “and it’s a great way to enjoy the holidays.”
daniel@thepicayune.com