Leesburg Luminaria celebrates 25th year

(Courtesy of Nellda Friend)

Inclement weekend weather did not deter the Leesburg Lions Club from leading the village in its annual Festival of Lights Dec. 8.

All decked out in a Polar Express theme, the Leesburg Library welcomed the sixth grade royalty where the essay winners read their compositions and were crowned by first Lion, first Vice District Governor Don Robinette of Washington Court House.

The sixth-graders wrote essays titled, "What the Luminaria means to me," and were judged anonymously by Lions Club members.

King and Queen were Justin Sowders and Laynee Duffie; prince and princess were Gavin Campbell and Saylor Priest.

Area residences which included luminaries were judged for their attractive decorations by Lion Don Robinette. The home of Janet and Hugh Turner, 312 E. Main, was the in-town winner; the home of Todd and Kristine Wigginton, 11690 S.R. 72 won the out-of-town prize. Each couple won a $50 prize.

An antique tractor-drawn wagon driven by Leesburg Lions president Ken Woleab transported the royal sixth-graders to the village open houses. Visitors also filled two additional wagons borrowed from the county fair board. The wagons arrived to and departed from the Square One building, just east of the town center, where Santa welcomed a steady line of children from 5:30-7 p.m.

Woleab expressed the Lions Club's appreciation for all the area participating businesses who opened and welcomed guests, served refreshments, and decorated with luminarias throughout the village: American Legion Post 568; Crossroads Diner, Dollar General, Saucy Sisters Pizza, Hickory & Plaid, Batter Up Bakery, Kay Simmons Insurance, Southern Hllls Community Bank, Leesburg Library, Leesburg Market & Meats, Post Office, United Methodist Church, Leesburg Flea Market, Mane Street Salon and Square One Heating and Cooling.

This year celebrates a quarter century of the Lions Club sponsoring the Luminaria, begun in 1988, when the leaders suggested a community-wide celebration of lights. Proceeds from the sale of the luminaries help the world-wide Lion project of alleviating blindness. Looking back, those leaders include former Lions, Richard Kisamore and Chester Newlan.