We had another very successful Light Up Downtown (LUDT) this year in North Wilkesboro. Events such as this would not be successful without the help of so many people. First off, all of us at Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro (HDTNW) would like to thank the LUDT planning committee for their hard work and dedication. Margaret Cooper and Stan Clifton who both co-chaired the LUDT planning committee. Also thanks to the committee members Matthew Greene, Jason Carlton, Joanna Barelski, Alison Pipes, Lib Forester, Sandra Watts, and Ike Forester.
We would also like to thank the Town of North Wilkesboro for all their hard work in helping to make the event run smoothly and to the North Wilkesboro Police Department for helping to make it safe for everyone. Thanks to the downtown businesses that stayed open late and participated in the window decorating contest. Thanks to former Mayor Steve Foster for kicking off the event.
We had many people volunteer their services and equipment for the event as well. Thanks to RG Absher for not only loaning us his equipment for the Melody Square stage, but for also spending the entire evening there helping to manage the stage. Thanks to Frank Day for helping to manage the Melody Square stage. Thanks to Wilkesboro Baptist Church for loaning their equipment to us for the 10th Street Stage, and to the Town of North Wilkesboro for loaning us their equipment for the 9th Street Stage. We would also like to thank Ed Racey and Jason Carlton for emceeing and managing the 9th Street Stage and Pete Barelski for managing the 10th Street Stage. Thanks to Steve Handy for his rickshaw rides and to WKBC for all their promotions of the event. Thanks to Mike Testerman for helping to get Santa from the North Pole, to Wilkes Towers for providing a place for Santa pictures, and to Roger’s Furniture for providing a chair for Santa. Thanks to Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Wilkes Journal Patriot, Robert Johnson, and The Record for ad sponsorships in our local papers. Thanks to Angela Day, Bob Skees, Paul Barelski, Gretchen Barelski, Kelly Pipes, Gordon Burns, Abby Burns, Mike Cooper, Keith Elmore, and the LUDT planning committee for volunteering at the event. Thanks to James Motsinger and Blue Ridge Tractor Company for providing tractors, trailers, and drivers for the hayrides.
An event wouldn’t be fun without the entertainment. Thanks to West Wilkes Chorus, Little Miss Snowflake Madison Andrews, Main Street Baptist Choir, Tonya’s Academy of Dance, Studio 68, Traphill Cloggers, Edgewood Baptist Church Choir, Seniors on Stage, Wilkesboro Puppets and Clowns, North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, Tutsi Rolls Gymnastics, Wilkes Central High School Band, Wilkes Acoustic Folks Society, North Wilkesboro Baptist Church Choir, North Wilkes High School Band and Chorus, and Crossfire Church Choir.
Thanks to the vendors who braved the cold to sell a variety of goodies: Hospice of Wilkes, Humane Society of Wilkes, Cornerstone Church Youth Group, Truth Community Church, Women’s Service League of Wilkes, Boy Scout Troop 325, Gordon Baptist Christian School, Moravian Falls Baptist Women on Missions, School Food Services Association, Catastrophic Creations, Shannon White, Smart Start, NC Army National Guard, American Red Cross, New Life Mobility Assistant Dogs, Café K9 Creations, Millers Creek Fire Dept Auxiliary, Girl Scout Troop 1143, and Carolina West Wireless.
A special thanks to Lib Forester for working to have a Peace Tree on 6th Street. This tree is in dedication of all our troops overseas that will not be home for Christmas. Thanks to Wal-Mart, Journal Patriot, Clintco, Frank Day, Ivy Ridge Traditions, Wednesday Morning “Coffee Commissioners”, The Record, Ken Welborn, Ruby’s of Wilkes, George Forester, Jr., Suntrust Bank, and Lowe’s for monetary donations to supply the Lights and Signage. Thanks to Robert Bauguess, Albert Miller, and the Downtown Maintenance Crew for putting the lights on the tree, and to Luther Parks and Duke Power for their assistance with the electricity for the tree.
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Wilkes County Cruisers
