Who doesn’t like to pile into the family car and go out on a cold December night to look at the businesses, churches, and homes that are decorated with lights for the holiday! It is a family tradition that has taken place over many generations this time of year. And one of the best towns in Arkansas to admire the Christmas lights is in Paris.
The Logan County Courthouse Square located in Paris has become one of the top ten places to see in Arkansas as rated by some media publishers and outlets. The holiday lights on the square is a massive project by both the City of Paris and the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce. Preparations for the holiday season take months in the planning and the installation of exterior lights. The lights are officially illuminated on the night of the Paris Christmas Parade which is typically held the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day.
But the residents of Paris don’t stop with the creation of a “storybook” atmosphere in the town’s square that contains lights on every business, light pole, flower planter, and landscaping around the courthouse. Churches, streetlights, businesses, and resident homes are all colorfully lit during the month of December.
Throughout the city, state highway 22 that goes through town is lighted each year by snowflakes that are attached to power poles. The lighted snowflakes are a tradition each year and have maintained their charming, “retro” look for the town of Paris each year at Christmas.
Throughout the town of Paris, residents go out each year, decorating their homes beautifully for the holidays. From the conservative, few lights approach, to the “Clark Griswald” overwhelming lights approach, residents do a great job going the extra mile to share their holiday cheer with passers by. In fact, if you are a fan of the classic holiday movie, “A Christmas Story”, you may notice that Ralphie’s famous lamp shines on today in Paris, Arkansas!
Regardless of your religious beliefs or affiliation, most people will agree that Christmas and the ensuing holiday season is a very special time of the year. We all have our childhood memories, and many parents hold them dearly and try each year to recreate those memories for their children. So, as the song goes, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!”
Paris has a lot to be thankful for this year. It was a very tough summer that included a devastating storm in July. No lives were lost, and the city quickly cleaned up and restored life to normal. For this, and many other reasons, we have much to be thankful for this year.
From all of us at RNN and RNN Sports, we are so thankful for you, our readers. And from our entire staff, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!
