ORANGE — Light poles along Main Street and beyond are bundled in lights, wreaths and garlands as part of a competition put on by the Orange Merchants Group to raise money for the town’s holiday decorating committee next year.
Twenty six businesses each paid $25 each to participate in the competition, including Mount Tully Kennels, Prescott Oil, Fun Fancy Nails, Eye Candy Beauty Bar, Millers River Cafe, Trailhead and Hometown Realtors.
The idea for the fundraiser came from an Orange Merchants Group meeting in November.
“We wanted to do something nice for the town of Orange,” said Orange Select Board member Tom Smith.
This year Orange had no decorations or decorating committee after the old lights were ruined during the off season. To buy new lights next year Smith had the idea to put on a fundraiser, which took the form of a competition that also helps spruce up downtown for the holiday season.
Businesses may decorate their light poles however they please, the only rule being each one must match the theme of “Old Fashioned Christmas”, using only white lights in the display. Winners will receive a trophy and bragging rights.
Until Dec. 26 Orange residents can vote for their favorite light pole either online through the town’s website, or at the Miller’s River Cafe. Contestants had from Dec. 1 through 8 to decorate the poles, concluding with the “Midnight Madness” holiday sale Saturday night. After voting is complete business owners will be able to display their shops’ names on the poles.
No pictures of the light poles will be available online, and residents are encouraged to take a walk downtown and see the displays for themselves.
“This is the point of all this, getting people out to look at them,” Smith said
Smith thanked Highway Department superintendent Colin Killay for the extra hours worked to make sure each light pole had electricity.
“If it wasn’t for him this whole thing wouldn’t have happened,” Smith said.
Orange residents can vote for their favorite light pole at the Miller’s River Cafe (also Trail Head Outfitter) at at 1 South Main St. or the town website: https://www.townoforange.org/. For more information visit the Orange Merchants Group Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeMass/.
Sarah Robertson can be reached at srobertson@atholdailynews.com.