Festival of Lights is Dec. 10 years ago
"All Aboard for the Holidays" is the theme for Ramona's annual Festival of Lights scheduled for 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10.
"We're offering you several delightful reasons to visit our little town," said Ramona Mayor Pat Wick. "Santa's even making a special appearance in Ramona on that night! You'll find him on Main Street."
The Ramona Café will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. for supper or a slice of Marlene's famous pie.
The newly-opened Barbershop Gallery, which is two doors south of the café, also will be open.
The Festival of Lights was created five years ago with the goal of getting every home in Ramona to put up Christmas lights or some holiday display. "It's our attempt to light up the dark prairie nights in December," said Jessica Gilbert, event leader. "It's another fun reason to come into town."
This year's displays will be judged by three people who are Ramona residents but reside in the country. First and second prizes will be awarded, and feature gift certificates from area businesses.
From 6 to 7 p.m. a live nativity will appear on Main Street. The Holy Family will be portrayed by town residents.
The "gem" of the Festival of Lights is a special Christmas tour of the CollinBelt Railroad, a miniature train display that travels through five rooms!
Trains have been Collin Bailey's life-long passion and from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., he and his friends will be taking folks on 15-20 minute tours. The major displays depict the railroad yards in Kansas City and Herington, and of course Ramona, since the railroad is still one of the defining characteristics of our little town. You'll even take a ride through Wyoming!
The CollinBelt Railroad Tour is free. Donations are appreciated, though. Collin is a member of the Park Improvement Committee in Ramona and all donations will go toward the committee's current project — building bathrooms in the city park.
Because each tour can only comfortably accommodate five to seven people at a time, and because we want to keep all customers happy, tours will be by reservation.
Call 785-965-2621 and leave a message giving your name, phone number, address, and the number of people in your party. If there's a time between 4:30 and 8:30 when you cannot go on a tour, please say so.
You'll receive a ticket with your name and tour time on it. The ticket also tells you where to "board the train" for the tour. This ticket tells the station agent that you have the right to a tour.
You can show up without a ticket, but there are no guarantees there will be space open for a tour, or how long the wait will be.
Show up Dec. 10 at the time on your ticket and have a great tour.
Some lucky guests will get to help the train conductors and engineers control the throttle on the Southern Pacific Daylight. Or just stand and watch the Fast Mail Express roll past with Christmas goods. No matter what your age, this experience will make you smile!
Make Ramona a part of your holiday celebrations. The Annual Festival of Lights is sponsored by the Ramona Festivities Committee. For more information, call Jessica Gilbert, 785-965-2621 or 785-965-7110.
