Leesburg celebrates 25th annual Luminaria Dec. 8

By Kathy Huff

The Leesburg Lions Club’s 25th annual Luminaria is just around the corner.

This year’s event will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, with the lighting of the luminaries, followed by the presentation of the King and Queen at 5:45 p.m. at the Leesburg Public Library.

The King and Queen will be selected from candidates in the sixth grade at Fairfield Schools who have submitted entries to an essay contest entitled “What the Luminaria Means To Me.”

A home decorating contest is open to all residents in the Fairfield School System. The only stipulation is that Lions Luminaries be used as part of the decoration.

If you reside outside the villages of Leesburg or Highland and want to enter your home in the contest, call (937) 780-6140 or (937) 780-7611. The judge for the event will be a District Lion Officer and the two winning entries will receive $50 each.

An added treat this year will be wagon rides around town to view all the beautiful decorations. The wagons will be running from 5:30-7 p.m. and the pick-up and drop off point will be Square One Heating &Cooling in downtown Leesburg.

Santa will be at Square One Heating & Cooling from 5:30-7 p.m. and many Leesburg businesses will be holding open house during those same hours.

Those participating are the American Legion Post 568, Crossroads Diner, Dollar General, Saucy Sisters Pizza, Hickory & Plaid, Batter Up Bakery, Kay Simmons Insurance, Southern Hills Community Bank, Leesburg Branch Library, Leesburg Market & Meats, Leesburg Post Office, Leesburg United Methodist Church, Leesburg Flea Market, Mane Street Salon and Square One Heating & Cooling.

The evening will end with a Community Christmas Service at the Walnut Hills Church of Christ in Christian Union (Barger Road) at 7:30 p.m.

Order forms have been distributed through local churches and are also available at local businesses.

The cost of the Luminaria kits is $8 each and they will be available for pickup at Square One Heating & Cooling on Friday, Dec. 6, from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It is our hope that all residents of Leesburg will help light up the village to celebrate the real meaning of the Christmas Spirit.

If you have any questions, you can call 937-780-6140 or 937-780-7611.