By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Mill House Lights celebration is ready for a big Saturday
This weekend!
Mill House Lights set up
A DEDICATED CREW of citizens were out in force setting up the Mill House Lights holiday display by the dam in Gays Mills last Saturday. Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 with a holiday parade, ending at the dam where Santa and Mrs. Claus will hold court. The Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk will start at 2 p.m. Set-up volunteers include, front from left, Jacob Eby and Brexley Heisz-Polensky; back from left, Rebecca Eby, Aryn Hooker, Tara Heisz, Harry Heisz, and Courtney Heisz.

GAYS MILLS - In a holiday season that has been changed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is cheering to note that some things are remaining the same. 

People are still out cutting Christmas trees and decorating their homes, the Village Greenhouse is still selling poinsettias and wreaths, and the Friends of Gays Mills are still preparing to treat the community to a holiday parade, lights display and visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The Mill House Lights Holiday Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5, starting at 5 p.m. with a parade down Main Street. The parade will end by the dam at Robb Park, where participants will be treated to the grand opening of the holiday lights display, and cookies and hot cocoa with Santa and Mrs. Claus, starting at 6 p.m.

“I have been counting the lights in the display, and I think it will be about 30,000 lights total,” Tara Heisz said. “I am super proud also of the ‘Happy Holidays’ sign that I welded myself, and that has been placed on the dam building to hold lights.”

Last Saturday, there were about a half dozen community volunteers taking advantage of the warm, sunny weather, to continue set up. The effort has benefitted from many donations of volunteer labor, lights and even extension cords.

The organizers of the event, Friends of Gays Mills, will accept monetary donations to support the Mill House Lights and the Friends’ ongoing fundraising for improvement projects in the village. They will also accept donations of non-perishable food items for the Gays Mills Food Pantry.

Ugly Sweater 2K/5K

Not only that, the North Crawford National Honor Society has gotten in on the fun, and is holding their first annual ‘Ugly Sweater 5K Run/Walk’ the same day. The event is a fundraiser for the society’s ‘Food 4 Kids program to provide weekend meals to kids in need. 

This healthy option for holiday fun kicks off at 2 p.m. at Lions Park in Gays Mills, and concludes at 4 p.m.

So far, the run has 53 people pre-registered to participate. According to North Crawford science teacher Linda Dworschack, others who decide to participate can sign up the day of the event, starting at 1 p.m. until race time. The cost to participate is $20, and a t-shirt cannot be guaranteed.

Village Greenhouse

Village Greenhouse didn’t want to be left out of all the holiday fun, so they have jumped in as well. On Saturday, Dec. 5, all shoppers will have their name entered for a gift basket drawing. The drawing will take place at 5 p.m., and the store will have extended hours that day until 5 p.m. All poinsettias remaining will be on sale, buy-one-get-one.