Light Up Tusky event continues for second year
This home on Main Street in Tuscarawas is part of the Light Up Tusky home-decorating contest this year.
This year’s Light Up Tusky event is off to a slower start than last year, and more homes are welcome to participate in this year’s home-decorating event.
“Everyone seems to have Braves fever,” said Matt Smith, a Light Up Tusky Committee member.
The Indian Valley Braves football team won its first state championship at Tom Benson Stadium at the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend. They beat the Sandusky Perkins Pirates 37-36.
With Christmas now fast approaching, the Light Up Tusky Committee is looking forward to the holiday spirit the project provides. The past several years, the committee has worked to get Christmas lights for the poles along Main Street and Cherry Street. They also purchased a lighted Santa for Village Hall. All the improvements were made with donations and money earned from fundraising events.
Last year about 25 homes participated in the contest that earned the winner a prize basket of goodies. Everyone in the village is encouraged to put out some decorations, even if they don’t enter the contest.
Participants will receive a yard sign that says Light Up Tusky to let others know they are in the contest. Voting started Dec. 1 and will end Dec. 21. In the spirit of the event, one vote for each person only. Voters should include their name and an email or phone number as one voter will win a $50 gas card. Voting will take place at the Tusky Deli and the Tusky Library.
The winning home will receive a gift basket with items donated by the Tusky Deli, Olde Town Tavern, Tusky Dug Out and Tusky VFW Post 7943. Also included are a dozen cookies from Creative Mother Hens.
More information is available at the Light Up Tusky Facebook page.
For anyone still interested in participating, message organizers on the Facebook page or call or text 740-229-0049.
The committee recently raised more than $3,600 at its fish fry fundraiser. It’s much needed funds as each pole light decoration costs about $400-$500 to place. They started small but now have 34 pole light decorations; unfortunately, not every pole can have a light placed on it, due to the way the electricity is installed on some.
“I think we’re about 95% done,” Smith said.
In the future Smith would like to see the group place a Christmas tree for the village in the food truck park along Main Street. The area is still under construction, but when competed, it will include spots for two food trucks, a gazebo and a playground.
“The main thing is getting more things for the community to come together,” Smith said. “I’m an old Norman Rockwell guy. I like those old paintings, and so I like walking down Main Street with everything lit up and the town looks good and people are involved.”
Anyone who wants to help with the project can drop off a donation or mail it the Tuscarawas Village Hall. Light Up Tusky projects are fully funded by donations.
“That’s the only way that stuff happens,” Smith said.
The Light Up Tusky Committee isn’t just about Christmas lights; they plan to add more to the sense of community they are creating.
“In the spring we want to do the flags of honor for all military veterans,” Smith said. “That’s going to be part of Light Up Tusky too.”
The committee also will think about what it can do to spruce up the village for the 250th anniversary of the United States on July 4, 2026. The committee members are Smith, Mike McConnell, Tom Baker and Matt Ritenour.