By KAREN MADORIN
Lovers of sunlight, rejoice, the winter solstice soon marks another year’s end. Following it, days grow longer by accumulating seconds per day, until in a couple of months, we enjoy more sunshine than darkness during a 24-hour span. For the impatient, it’s interminable wait on incremental minutes before we notice extra light. To pass time, let’s bask in glowing Christmas decor brightening our prairie villages.
For those who call North Central and Northwest Kansas home, residents can thank small town leadership for honoring this season with festive street decorations. Depending on the size of the village, those lights can include an illuminated bell, wreath, or star hanging from each Main Street light post. A central focus like a giant Christmas tree or manger scene frequently accents community crossroads.
Bogue, WaKeeney, and Phillipsburg showcase Christmas trees in the middle of Main. In the first two, that centerpiece stands literally in the middle of an intersection. Anyone cruising by gets the full effect of driving past a triangle of colored lights. In Phillips County, the signature tree occupies the courthouse square. It’s so large, it brightens the entire block. In addition, other decorations add festive flair. If you drove downtown in a grumpy mood, you’d leave smiling.
Once you exit Interstate south into Ellis, illuminated poles guide folks to the center of town where a manger scene and other décor punctuates the old green where light-draped trees and bushes highlight this old railroad town. After you reach this peaceful park, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of flyover country. It’s a Kansas Mayberry. On the east side of the street, an historic depot lit up in garland-wrapped lights welcomes riders to the community’s aerotrain.
After dark, Christmas lighting adds to the charm of Damar’s quaint French village-style main street. Once dusk descends, it’s hard to remember you’re in Kansas as you look south toward the silhouettes of old-world cathedral spires or see French words painted on the sides of tiny shoppes.
Further north on Highway 9, the burg of Edmond electrifies and wreathes its tiny city park. Coming into town from either direction after dark gifts an aha moment to help you realize you don’t need much population to string lights and hang greenery. What a pleasant surprise on a lonely road!
Fifteen miles east down the same road, you run into Logan. Bright bulbs zigzag up Main Street, linking one radiantly decorated light pole to another. Residents add personal touches that add warmth to cold December nights, establishing that this is a special time of year.
Continue driving east another fifteen miles to hit Glade and count all four Christmas stars brightening the quadrants of the main drag before leaving town. If you stay on 9, Kirwin’s colorfully lit town square would charm Scrooge and you as well.
No matter what direction you drive across the prairie, you’ll find Christmas alive and well in towns big and small. Residents ante up their change to buy bright decor and pay for extra kilowatts that celebrate this time of year.
Yes, prairie folk desire longer days. Fortunately, we know how to add our own light while we wait for Mother Nature to hit the on-switch