TURN ON THE LIGHTS, as the city of Moultrie, GA brings an end to Thanksgiving by lighting up downtown Moultrie with their annual Canopy of Lights.
The Canopy of Lights is a celebration that was inspired in 1933 when the first lights were put out on the courthouse square. The event brings in thousands of locals and surrounding counties to celebrate a night for family and friends.
The Canopy of Lights also featured local vendors, downtown shopping from businesses around the square, and performances by the group “THREE4ONE”
Caroline Barber, Mainstreet Manager for Moultrie Georgia, when asked about the tradition that the Canopy of Lights brings to the city of Moultrie, said “Lifetimes of generations have been coming to look at the lights. The kids, the parents, the grandparents, they all remember being little and coming up and looking at the lights. So it’s a tradition that’s grown and grown over the years.” Barber also discussed some new features that were a part of the celebration this year.
“This year we added in a camel, we shot another street down, and the footprint is constantly growing. We have about 20,000 people that attend, but it’s all about just making memories with your family and that warm, fuzzy feeling that this event brings,” Barber said.
One thing that stood out to me about this event is the impact that it has on the city of Moultrie. Thousands of people gather at this event, but some of the people that you see may only be there once a year.
Barber explained just how important that is to people; she said “You see people here that you see once a year, or once every 10 years that come home. Everybody always comes home for this event, and maybe not every year, but they do come home. This is the thing to bring people together, and to celebrate a family community. So, it’s tradition, its love, and it’s family.”
Isabel Turrubiartez, resident of Moultrie, spoke about the importance of the event as well. She said, “This event helps build the community by bringing the city, families, and friends together, and it helps make holiday memories.”
The Canopy of Lights also welcomed some new faces to the event like ABAC student Lwenzlyn Hills. Hills said, “This was my first time being at the Canopy of Lights, but it was nice seeing people who not only lived there, but many people who didn’t live there coming together to celebrate a fantastic event.”
I was also one of the new faces to attend the Canopy of Lights, and it was apparent that the city of Moultrie made a substantial effort to put it together. To witness the look on kids and families’ faces when the lights came on was a special moment that I hope each one of them cherishes forever.
It was a wonderful way to end off Thanksgiving Day and to bring the community together as everyone gets ready to welcome in Christmas.
Photos | ANTHONY BAISDEN