Carthage police will close Fairview and Grand around The Way of Salvation Christmas light display at the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer for one hour on Tuesday, Dec. 18 for the annual Run Through the Lights.
Vehicle access to the lights will be closed from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18 for the event that has attracted hundreds of people in past years.
According to the event’s Facebook page, the run starts at the Carthage Nazarene Church and goes north across Fairview into the light display.
More ambitious runners have the option of running a marked route around the Square and back to the church, which approximately equals a 5K run.
Others can simply walk through the lights, then back to the Nazarene Church on Grand. The Church will be opened so people can warm up before and after the event. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available, and people give donations, which will go to the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer to help pay for the costs of The Way of Salvation light show.
“This is not a competition and will not be timed,” the Facebook page says. “It is solely a fun run/walk, or even ride if you want to bring your bike out to join in. This will be an evening run; reflective gear is encouraged (or flashing Christmas lights if you’re so inclined.)”
The Carthage City Council approved closing Fairview Avenue from Winwood Street to Grand, and Grand from Highland Street to Fairview, for that one-hour period to protect the safety of those running and walking through the lights.
“Last year there were several hundred runners, and this caused a significant traffic delay and a lot of very angry people,” said Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan at the Tuesday, Nov. 27, City Council meeting. “So, we are going to try to get the word out in advance that we’re just going to shut everything down for that hour. Don’t come between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18, the road will be shut down, you can’t get in.”
City officials said organizers had planned to hold the event, to be held for the fourth year this year, on a day when the lights at the CRM were normally shut down.
But the Fathers at the CRM changed their schedule so the lights are open on Tuesday, Dec. 18.
Council Member Brady Beckham, whose wife, Chanti Beckham, organizes the event, said organizers don’t officially count the runners and walkers in the event, but last year, they gave out more than 1,000 cookies and hundreds of cups of hot chocolate.
For more details about the Run Through the Lights, search for Carthage Run Through the Lights on Facebook.
