Santa Claus and Mayor Daniel Rickenmann will be on hand to flip the switch on a new ceiling of lights covering the 1600 block of Main Street at a ceremony in front of Mast General Store set for 5:30 p.m.

The block was closed on Wednesday as crews installed the 28,000 decorative LED lights that will be a permanent fixture on the block and a picturesque highlight of downtown visits.

“We have seen this in other cities and really think it will be wonderful for Main Street, potentially as a prototype for other blocks,” said Matt Kennell, President + CEO of the Main Street District. “It’s a way to add some additional lighting with a lot of charm on one of our busiest blocks, and we think people will just love it.”

The lights are similar to those seen in other cities across the country like the ones seen below on Dauphin Street in Mobile, AL.

The Marcus King Band trailer sits under a canopy of lights in Mobile, AL. | Photo by COLAtoday

The 1600 Block is one of the Main Street District’s most active blocks, featuring restaurants like Smoked, Hendrix, and The Grand, along with The Nickelodeon theatre.

At a cost of $40,000, funding for the lights was provided by the Main Street District + some Main Street business owners. The district sees the 1600 block as the pilot project for the canopy of lights and hopes to light up several more blocks in the future, most likely ones with two and three-story buildings.