Westwood revives tradition of lighting the streets for Christmas

WESTWOOD - As he walked the roads around Westwood, Daniel Gooris and infant son Silas marveled at the lights placed on the houses and luminaries that lined the streets of the town.

While visiting relatives at Westwood, Gooris and family found themselves in the revival of the tradition of Westwood Winter Wonderland. Committees from throughout the town planned for months to provide some of the best Christmas lighting in the area. On Saturday, Dec. 15, shortly before 6 p.m., the luminaries were lit along the roadways to guide people on either a driving or walking tour of the area to see the holiday decorations and the lights on the houses were turned on. While visitors began arriving before the 6 p.m. kickoff, the lights burned through the darkness to welcome them to Westwood.

'We've never been here when it has happened,” Gooris, who traveled from Bloomington, Illinois, said. 'It happened about 15 years ago. I had heard stories about it and we definitely wanted to come and see it. I'm glad we came.”

While no set plans have been made to have the event again next year, Gooris said he would return for a second round of the Winter Wonderland if it is offered.

Westwood resident Linda Coats, who chaired the Winter Wonderland committee, said in addition to creating a beautiful showcase for people attending the event, setting up the Winter Wonderland had brought together many residents of Westwood who may not have otherwise gotten to know each other well. During the work, the neighbors have gotten to know each other much better.

The revival of the tradition of lighting the streets of Westwood actually began in the summer. One of Coats' first memories of moving to Westwood was the last year the Winter Wonderland event was held. Over the summer as a group of townspeople were discussing the history of Westwood, Coats told other residents the story of the lighting from 15 years ago.

'We remembered it just being a beautiful sight,” she said. 'We had just moved in that summer. A couple of ladies had pulled up in a pickup truck and said they were decorating and asked us to light luminaries. It was just gorgeous. We decided we could do that again.”

Attending a city council meeting, Coats found plenty of support in the community to revive the wonderland. In September, during a community picnic, every resident of Westwood pledged their support to the event. After starting with a committee of about four people, the number quickly rose to about 15. Subcommittees were also selected for each of the five streets to coordinate the decorations of the houses.

Coats explained the Winter Wonderland is a Christmas celebration. All of the 49 houses in town were decorated with a myriad lights to celebrate the season.

'Everyone went all out,” Coats said.

On Sunday, the town held a special lighting and cookie walk for just the residents to give each a chance to see the displays their neighbors had arranged.

Coats said there has been no talk about doing the event next year except for discussion about what to do with the funding the committee had left after the event.

'The members said we can just save it and use it next year,” Coats said.