Lilley Cares, the Spring Lake-based nonprofit organization that sponsors and manages Sparkle, announced today the Sparkle Season has officially kicked off with an event at the Lilley Mansion on October 27.
Joan Mack, Lilley Cares Interim Executive Director, stated, “now that we are post-pandemic we are excited to be able to pull our entire community together as never before for our holiday event known as Sparkle. We will focus once again on a classic Christmas.” Ms. Mack reported that there are three major components to Sparkle this year: Music, Lights and Santa.
The Spring Lake downtown lights will be officially switched on Saturday evening, November 26 at or around 6:30pm upon the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus to the Courtyard at Epicurean Village. “The Courtyard has become the heart of Spring Lake,” said Ms. Mack, “and so we will focus on this space for lights, music, and Santa this December, including a giant Christmas tree.”
One of the most exciting new components of Sparkle will be a House for Santa which is being built and donated to Lilley Cares by Sherry Zuidema and her business partner Jimmy Karrip, of Nest Builder Development & Resolve Realty. Mrs. Zuidema jumped at the opportunity to give something back to Spring Lake. “My family has been in Spring Lake since it was founded,” Mrs. Zuidema said. “and I just knew that the Santa House was something we had to do for Spring Lake.” She reported that the House will be in the Courtyard for Santa in time for the kickoff on November 26. “We’re excited to have this centerpiece for Sparkle,” stated Ms. Mack. “Sherry has been a leader this year on the Lilley Cares Working Team and we could not have accomplished what we did this year without her. And the culmination of her commitment is the Santa House.”
Major sponsors including Hendrickson Agency, GDK Construction, Rock Solid Granite, Doug Heins State Farm, and many more will join the Lilley Cares Board, Advisory Board and Working Team, along with the entire Spring Lake community to welcome Santa to his new home in the Epicurean Courtyard on November 26.
The kickoff begins @ 6pm with Santa at the Tanglefoot Park fireplace and then moves to the Courtyard by 6:30pm when Santa will officially declare the Sparkle Season open. It is also Small Business Saturday where stores and businesses will be open in Spring Lake for this festive evening. Local singers from churches will be in attendance for Christmas caroling.
Ms. Mack reminds us that events will be listed on the local Village calendar site but also announced on social media, most especially Facebook.
"All lights and decorations are purchased and maintained by us at Lilley Cares,” she reports, “and Sparkle can only be successful with help and funding from our supporters throughout the area. “Thousands of people enjoy the lights in Spring Lake each year and we are proud to bring it to our community. We thank you for your help to make it happen once again.”
Comments