DIS

DISCOVER! | NOVEMBER 28, 2015
10 | Community
At a Glance:
WHAT: Festival of Lights
WHERE: Downtown Rock Valley
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 3 from 3:30-
7 p.m.
COST: Varies, but kids events and
the parade are free
CONTACT: 712-476-9300
ONLINE: www.rockvalleychamber.
com
Race:
Hegg Memorial will be hosting
a fun run to get the blood
pumping in the winter chill.
The 3rd annual Frosty 5K and
Merry Mile will be held in conjunction
with the Rock Valley Festival
of Lights on Thursday, Dec. 3.
Registration is available
online at https://clients.
mindbodyonline.com/classic/
home?studioid=34432 or by mail.
All participants will receive a
long-sleeved t-shirt. Races will
not be timed.
The cost is $10 per participant
and there will be prizes for best
winter costumes. The race starts
at 5:30 p.m.
KATE HARLOW | STAFF WRITER
Lighting up the night
Festival of Lights jumpstarts the season in Rock Valley
Winter lengthens the nights
but during the holiday season
that darkness takes on
a sparkly glow with the addition of
Christmas lights.
Rock Valley will be hosting an event
where those lights take center stage.
The 3rd annual Festival of Lights is
set to take place on Thursday, Dec. 3,
from 3:30-7 p.m.
“It’s a family type of event and provides
an outing for kids and families,”
said Keith Sietstra, the community activities
and chamber director in Rock
Valley. “It’s our way of welcoming the
holiday season.”
The Festival of Lights kicks off at
3:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse facility
downtown, which is located just west
of Pizza Ranch. At that indoor location,
they have all kinds of activities
and crafts set up for kids to have a
ball. They will be making ornaments,
coloring bags and decorating cookies.
“We have tables full of activities
and chamber businesses volunteer to
man those tables,” Sietstra said. “We
also bring over 300 Christmas tree
cookies with green frosting. The kids
can make and take them home or eat
them right there.”
The Lighthouse will also be the
place to hear some music, visit with
Santa, as well as watch a holiday movie.
They’ll be playing “Home Alone”
for those who want to stay inside
where it’s warm.
There will also be sleigh rides
around downtown and this year they
are incorporating something completely
new into the Festival of Lights
event.
“We’re going to be doing a downtown
holiday scavenger hunt. There
will be 15 different places where kids
or parents or families can go,” Sietstra
said. “They’ll collect clues and come
back. If people are able to get to all
the places then they will get a free
smoothie.”
Hegg Memorial will be hosting the
3rd annual Frosty 5k and Merry Mile
fun run/walk later on in the evening at
5:30 p.m. They will be giving a prize
for the best costume.
“Last year, they had about 75-100
runners. They were all decked out in
twinkly lights, jingle bells, Santa hats,
and other fun things,” Sietstra said.
After the race wraps up, it’s time to
don the winter gear and head to 14th
Street for the main event.
The lighted parade starts around 6:15
p.m., and while it’s not huge, it is impressive
in a completely different way.
“We usually only have about 15
bussinesses or groups with a lit float
and we go down 14th Street, because
it is a street that doesn’t have a ton of
lights. Everyone really enjoys seeing
it,” Sietstra said.
“I think it’s one of the most fun
things to see the lighted parade. It’s
fun to see the excitement of the holiday
season in the eyes of the youth,
residents and visitors.” F
Rock Valley | Iowa