It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Downtown Huntsville.
The festive feel at Town Hall, Kent Park, the swing bridge, and all along Main Street is thanks to the support of Explore Huntsville and the vision of the Downtown Huntsville BIA.
Explore Huntsville, the tourism marketing entity of the Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA), contributed $95,000 to the project following an impassioned presentation to the HMATA Board by Downtown Huntsville BIA Executive Director Rachel Hunt.
“We immediately saw the benefits of this project for Huntsville residents and visitors alike,” says Explore Huntsville/HMATA Executive Director Kelly Haywood. “It is a beautiful way to celebrate winter and the holiday season, and it complements the soon-to-launch Forest of Light at Sandhill Nursery, a reimagining of Explore Huntsville’s popular Eclipse Walk With Light project.”
This contribution to Huntsville’s downtown is in addition to HMATA’s previous financial support to install a refrigerated skating rink in River Mill Park, which is operated by the Chamber of Commerce and ensures residents and visitors alike can skate outdoors even when the weather is mild, as well as the previously installed light canopies above the rink, along the King Street walkway, and in Kent Park.
“It’s truly wonderful to see Downtown Huntsville transformed into a winter wonderland,” adds Haywood. “We are grateful to Rachel for bringing this project forward and to Town staff and Lakeland for helping to address issues with aging electricity infrastructure and capacity so that we could bring this vision to life.”
Downtown businesses have embraced the holiday spirit as well, with many lighting up their windows and adding festive greenery to their storefronts.
“Downtown is nothing short of magical,” says BIA Executive Director Rachel Hunt. “I encourage everyone to drive down Main Street to experience the warm and inviting atmosphere after dark, then park and stay awhile to stroll through downtown, enjoy dinner, explore our shops, and soak in the charm that lights up our community.”
This year’s lighting is just phase one of Hunt’s vision for downtown. She hopes to add to the installation annually for the next several years to create an even more magical experience that Huntsville residents can be proud to show off and that visitors will want to see.
“I’ve been receiving so many messages from community members who are in awe of how the downtown looks,” adds Hunt. “They are excited and inspired. I am so grateful to Explore Huntsville for helping bring this vision to life and for gifting our downtown an experience of light this season, and to the BIA Board and downtown businesses for their support and contributions. It’s something truly special for our community.”
The installation has been completed just in time for the annual Santa Claus Parade on Friday, November 28.
From Explore Huntsville/Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA)
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The lighting downtown is spectacular!!! Congrats to everyone involved.
Next year maybe include Riverside Park. It needs some summer maintenance first however as the overgrown vegetation now blocks the view down the river.
Went into town for dinner Saturday evening. Respite from watching the Leafs not play hockey. It was a surprise to see our Main Street aglow. DeLIGHTfull !!! And the color in Tombstone Territory was an added bonus.
I wonder tho’ who gets charged for the changing and replacement of bulbs? That’s a lot of bulbs. Also, is the hydro charge to light them up coming from tax revenues? I imagine the draw would shake the meter! Got to keep an eye on all this in case someone pulls a funny.
A great light show folks and Thanks.
Excellent. At least downtown looks alive for once.
I do agree with Mr. Cliffe. It badly needs some color.
Money well spent.
Thank you SO much for adding lights to our town! I think we desperately needed this. In past years, our downtown looked rather sad and boring – uninviting, actually. But this year… the lights everywhere are absolutely beautiful! I understand that it costs money and hard work to do something this spectacular, so I wanted to take the opportunity to say, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” Job well done!
How about some colored lights? Christmas is a warm happy colorful time not cold and bland
that the white colorless lighting shows. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but for me the color and the beauty has gone from Christmas.
The downtown looks amazing!! Kudos to all involved in this project. Well done!
Well done! It is beautiful and raises one’s spirits in the dark season.