In a meeting this past Tuesday, September 18th, members of the Blanco Chamber of Commerce, as well as other local merchants, kicked off planning for this year’s “Lighting of the Square” event, to be held on the Friday evening of Thanksgiving weekend, November 23.

Representatives of 17 local businesses, as well as from the Old Blanco County Courthouse, met to discuss ways to encourage full participation. Planned activities include lighting of all storefronts, contests for best lighting of a business or home, carriage rides, refreshments for visitors to retail establishments, as well as music on the square.

Plans include businesses extending their evening hours for Thanksgiving weekend as well as for other evenings, particularly on weekends, during the Christmas shopping season, and promotions to encourage a “Shop Local” theme – keeping shoppers in Blanco and away from busy highways and shopping malls.

Santa Claus will make an appearance upstairs in the Old Courthouse to welcome children and listen to their Christmas wishes.

The meeting was chaired by Julie Demaree Dill, President-elect of the Blanco Chamber, who encouraged a free-for-all atmosphere of brainstorming.

Keep your eye on the pages of future issues of this newspaper as plans develop and the excitement builds toward revitalizing a great Blanco tradition.