Spruce Pine was alive this past month during the first Light Up Spruce Pine Christmas Marketplace that brought Christmas cheer, carriage rides, story time with Mrs. Claus, gift wrapping to benefit Mitchell County Animal Rescue, a drop-off location for WAMY’s Santa for Seniors drive, food trucks, vendors, carolers, dancers and even the Grinch.
Lights are how Lynn Holler of Spruce Pine shares the light of Christ and the joy of Christmas
After reading many posts and comments on Facebook about activities and events (and also the lack of activities), Holler posted about German Christmas markets and how fun it would be to have a mountain version in Spruce Pine.
Her post garnered almost 100 comments and it was enough to give her momentum to round up volunteers.
Early meetings began long before most people were even thinking about back-to-school shopping. Meetings were open to anyone and anywhere from a few to a dozen people began to show up and discuss ideas.
The group picked up an event calendar from the Visitor Center by the Pocket Park downtown, and then they set out to talk to merchants to make sure they were on board with the concept and that they weren’t putting any burdens on them to participate. Holler also solicited merchant input.
Holler and volunteer Kathy McCormick pulled together a loose plan and attended a Spruce Pine Main Street Board meeting where they presented the concept of Light Up Spruce Pine Christmas Marketplace. There, they also met Mandi Polly, director of the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce.
Holler, McCormick and Polly discussed how having lights in downtown Spruce Pine and Bakersville as part of the Mountain Christmas Trail of Lights.
Polly said it would be fun to see Spruce Pine look like a Hallmark Christmas movie set. Holler started collecting strings of Christmas lights everywhere she went and asked for donations of lights and volunteers to help put them up.
Donors gave about $2,000 worth of lights while volunteers and businesses put in their own efforts.
Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin climbed buildings and put up many of the lights around town as a volunteer.
The event was also fueled by efforts of the Mitchell County Chamber, Bruce Ikard of WTOE, and Holler’s husband Mike (also known as the Grinch).
Mike climbed to add more lights to unlit locations and every night he and Lynn drove around looking for lights that needed to be fixed.
Lynn Holler is already thinking about 2023. She hopes to grow Light Up Spruce Pine with more volunteers, businesses and community support during the planning and lighting activities. Follow Light Up Spruce Pine Christmas Marketplace on Facebook to find out information about the event and corporate sponsorships.