The annual Lighting of the Square in Georgetown has once again brought the community together for a festive tradition. Hundreds of residents and visitors established their spots hours ahead of the event with picnics and camaraderie filling the courthouse lawn. Laura Grinstead, one of the attendees, arrived early to secure a prime viewing location. "We came out at ten o’clock and set up our table just so that we could be close by because you can see that it fills up very quickly and nobody can move," Grinstead told FOX 7 Austin. Families enjoyed homemade dishes while awaiting the evening's illumination, with one family member recounting, "Left over turkey and brisket sandwiches," as part of the feast, FOX 7 Austin reported.
This year's gathering not only marked the beginning of the holiday season but also served to boost local businesses in the area. Christy Carney, owner of two clothing stores on the square, Blushing Belle Boutique and The Lookout, expressed her enthusiasm for the local support. "We love the community of Georgetown, and we love being here," Carney shared with KXAN. Her businesses, along with others on the square, benefited from the influx of visitors attracted by the event and the holiday lights, which remain on display until New Year's Day.
The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as families like the Blanchards, visiting from Oklahoma, settled in for the event. "We have family visiting from Oklahoma so we thought, gosh what a great thing to do is to come down here to the square and see the lighting," Nanette Blanchard told FOX 7 Austin. The sight of Christmas carolers and the eventual arrival of Santa Claus added to the excitement leading up to the hallmark moment of the square's lighting.
At the strike of the switch, years of tradition illuminated the square, validating the collective patience of the families and friends huddled in the cold. Grinstead captured the sentiment of the occasion by stating, "This is a day for everybody to kind of just take a breathe and kind of look around and enjoy the fact that we live in this small town and celebrate the holiday and friendship and love and I think it’s just a really big milestone for everybody to mark the beginning of Christmas," as recounted by FOX 7 Austin. For attendees like Grinstead and the Blanchards, and for the businesses that thrive on such community gatherings, the Lighting of the Square remains a cherished highlight that heralds the start of the festive season.
