The stage is set for the 2015 Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Blaze of Lights. This year’s event, the 29th annual Blaze, begins Saturday, Nov. 28, in downtown Bluffton. Here is the up-to-the-minute Blaze information.

Friday, Nov. 27 - free movie at Shannon Theatre
Tommy Tire Sales and Stratton Auto Group present two free showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” at the Shannon Theatre. Showings are at 1:30 and 4 p.m.

• The following takes place on Saturday, Nov. 28.
Switch hitter
Paul Dyck will turn on this year’s Ream holiday folk art display lights. As a retired administrator of Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio, he represents MHCO, which is celebrating its 60th year in existence.

Blaze night entertainment
Following the parade (approximately 6 p.m.), and continuing until the lights go on (approximately 7 p.m.) three groups will entertain the Blaze audience.

• Bluffton High School show choir, directed by Kara Zink
• Dancers’ Elite, Bluffton dance studio, directed by Deb Garlock
• Jim Boedicker

Ice sculpture
Ice sculpturer Chad Hartson of Ice Creations of Napoleon, for the fifth year, will create a work of art from a large chunk of ice. Beginning at 4 p.m., as the crowd watches, Hartson will work with a block of ice 40 by 20 by 10 inches and over the next 45 minutes will create an ornate snowflake. Hartson’s work is described as a the “ultimate cool.”

Visit with the Grinch
New to this year’s Blaze is a visit from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. You can meet the Grinch (and have a photo with him) from noon to 3 p.m. at J.J.’s Touch of Sun Tanning Salon, 324 N. Main St. The Grinch will also be in the Blaze parade.

Nov. 28 schedule
4:00 p.m. – Ice carving exhibition - Main Street
4:00 p.m. - Food booths open
4:00 p.m. – Parade line up on Snider Road
5:00 p.m. – Parade
6:00 p.m. - Entertainment on Main Street
   • Bluffton High School show choir • Dancer Elite dancers • Jim Boedicker
6:55 p.m. – John George recites Christmas story from Luke 2
7:00 p.m. – Paul Dyck turns on the Ream lights

Immediately following the parade
- Horse and wagon rides and kiddie train rides
• Meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus in the Senior Citizens Center
• Meet Ronald McDonald in front of the review stand
• Gift of Giving light show on East College Avenue

100-plus unit parade!
Junior Weihrauch, parade coordinator, said that this year’s parade could be the largest in Blaze history. Over 90 units were registered as of Nov. 20. This year’s parade is estimated to last 60 minutes. To demonstrate this year’s parade size, in 2008 the parade had 40 units.

Groups wanting in the parade may contact:
Junior Weihrauch
20791 State Route 68
Arlington, Ohio 45814 or call him at: 419-365-5304

The parade route travels Snider Road south to Main Street and to College Avenue. It turns east on College and disbands at Triplett Drive.

Food
• County Kettle Corn (Crawfis family), Sports Warehouse alley
• Larson Barbecue (Todd Larson), Vine Street north of The Black Lab
• Bluffton Senior Citizens will offer their traditional Blaze supper from 4 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m. Their menu includes soups, sandwiches and homemade pie.
• Bluffton Lions Club will offer a chicken barbecue from 4 to 7 p.m. (or until sold out). Drive-through pick up takes place in the Family Dollar parking lot, or eat inside the Bluffton Presbyterian Church basement. Tickets are on sale from Lion members.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be in the Blaze parade. Following the parade, they will meet with youth of all ages at the Senior Citizens Center.

Horse and wagon rides one night only
J.A. Smith’s Town and Country Carriage Service, Van Wert, will provide horse and wagon rides on the night of the Blaze. This is the only night that those rides will be offered.
Rides will start at the conclusion of the Blaze parade and will continue during the evening. Departure point for the rides is in front of Common Grounds coffee shop.

Tickets for horse and wagon rides are $4 for persons 11 and older and $2 for youth 10 and under. Children who can sit on an adult lap have no charge. Tickets will be sold at the front of Common Grounds. Ticket sales will begin during the parade. This year’s horse and wagon route will be on South Main Street.

Romick Railway
A ride for young children, the Romick Railway, will offer rides following the parade. The railroad will be located on Main Street near Bluffton Senior Citizens Center.

The Gift of Giving light show extravaganza
In its eighth season, the Gift of Giving light show extravaganza will be shown across from Harmon Field stadium on East College Avenue. The show will be viewed nightly from 6 to 11 p.m. through Jan. 1. Based upon last year’s attendance, it is anticipated to attract an audience of over 5,000. On Blaze night, the show will start following the parade.

Chamber website and Facebook
All Blaze updates are posted on the chamber website: www.explorebluffton.com. Free maps showing locations of light displays in Bluffton are also available to download and print from the website.

Maps of Bluffton
The free maps showing locations of residential light displays will be posted on the chamber website, available in businesses and in the red mailbox on the Presbyterian Church lawn.
Printed copies will also be available at the Bluffton Marathon and other businesses.

...and during the entire Blaze season to Jan. 1

Santa Claus coming to town
The chamber has scheduled Santa’s visit to Bluffton two times in addition to the Blaze of Lights night. Here are those dates and locations:
• Saturday, Dec. 12 – Santa will be Bluffton Family Recreation, 215 Snider Road, from 10 to 11 a.m. He will then visit several Main Street businesses from 11 a.m. to noon.
• Saturday, Dec. 19 – Santa will be in The Dough Hook, 117 N. Main St., from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Santa will also be at the Friday, Dec. 11, chamber breakfast in the town hall.

Senior citizens peanut brittle
Ohio’s best peanut brittle is available only in Bluffton and only in November and December (while supplies last). The candy is produced each Monday in November by members of the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center. It is available for $5.50 a pound.

Deck the Hall Christmas cards
Beverly Amstutz has created “A Christmas from the Past” greeting card. These are available for $1 each at Greg’s Pharmacy. This is the 15th year Amstutz has created a card. This year’s card has her children on it, from a 1978 scene, when Bob worked at TWA and Bev taught elementary art. All previous year’s cards are also available at Greg’s.

New Ream display cutout
Terry Mullenhour, chair of the Village Cultural Affairs Committee, each year creates a new display piece to go on the Presbyterian Church lawn. She likes to keep it a surprise so that visitors can try to find it. We’ll give you a hint: look for two little boys playing a board game.