By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Lighted displays which helped lend a festive holiday atmosphere to downtown Decatur last year are due to return for the upcoming Christmas season – and there will be more than before!
Decatur Main Street brought the brightness to downtown in ’25 and four of its representatives showed up at Tuesday night’s city council meeting to outline plans for this year.
Executive Director Taylor Braun, Main Street President Max Miller, along with board members Kim Brandt and Jamie Gephart, explained the good news to council.
Several new displays will be set up on the Madison St. Plaza and Founders Park across from City Hall.
Two – a classic Santa’s mailbox and a Santa’s throne – will become permanent pieces.
In addition, there will be a 20-foot Christmas tree, a lighted entrance arch and numerous lighted opportunities to use for holiday photos.
Founders Park, meanwhile, will shine with hundreds of twinkling lights.
Gephart, who serves as the city’s community coordinator, said the apparatus should be up by November 20 and will continue through Christmas.
Miller said the organization has worked hard to raise funds to add the Christmas cheer. He noted that the group’s E-bike raffle, grants and generous donations have allowed the expansion of the various displays.
“We hope to do this every year now,” he noted.
City employees will put the various displays together.
“Our goal is to grow this tradition each year, creating a downtown winter wonderland straight out of a Hallmark movie,” Decatur Main Street said in an announcement. “Thank you to everyone whose support helps make it possible.”
Miller told council that the hiring of Braun as executive director last year has been a valuable addition. “That’s why a lot of this stuff is getting done now,” he said.
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