Prairie Home Hospice ‘Lights Up The Night’
Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care’s Third Annual “Light Up the Night” Kick Off was a great success. The event kicked off again this year with the Light Parade starting in downtown Marshall.
The parade route began on Main Street and ended at Independent Park, where a hearty holiday crowd gathered for the season’s first Lighting of the Park and Grand Winter Fireworks Display. “This year’s attendance during the Light Parade and kick off activities was heartwarming,” said Pat Mellenthin, Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care CEO.
“The event represents the success of a community that has supported the event from day one. Watching that success grow each year is exciting and we are so proud to be a part of bringing the community together during the holiday season!”
“The Light Parade and events that followed drew hundreds of people to Marshall, Main Street and Independence Park. It’s becoming a regional event. We hope that word about our event continues to spread and keeps drawing people from across the region and beyond. People are discovering that it’s well worth the drive.”
There were 28 units in the Light Parade this year.
The SMSU float took first place honors; ACE Hardware took second place; and SW MN Chemical Assessment Team took third place among parade entries. Light Up the Night runs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening in December from 5-9 p.m. at Independence Park. “We have a number of great family-friendly events planned throughout the next several weekends,” said Tara Plante, Marketing and Development Director at Prairie Home Hospice & Community Care. There’s something for everyone, starting with the biggest light show in the region featuring over 130,000 lights. That’s the background for the event, but there’s so much more.
A live nativity, holiday entertainment, Santa, trolley rides, hayrides, sledding, ice skating, and seasonal concessions are on the agenda every night of the event. Horse drawn carriage rides are offered on Friday and Saturday evenings. Special events like the Fishing Contest, Candy Cane Hunt and Doggy Day are scheduled throughout December.
Prairie Home Hospice and Community Care partners with several local organizations to make this event possible. The City of Marshall, Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce, Marshall Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marshall Fire Department, and Holy Redeemer, to name a few.
“The partners, area businesses, organizations and hundreds of volunteers who support the event are essential to the success and growth of the event each year,” said Plante. “As important as that support is, our long-term success will depend on the free-will donations we receive throughout the event.”
“Without those donations, we could not continue to host this event each year.
Proceeds also help to support our hospice program and two hospice houses. We welcome every donation and are hoping there may even be a few Secret Santas out there looking to brighten our holidays!” Donations can be dropped off at the event in our red mailboxes; mailed to our office; or made via Pay Pal on our website.
For donations mailed in or made via our website, please note that donation is in support of Light Up the Night. Volunteers are still welcome to help at the event. To sign up to volunteer to help with this event, please go to our website at www.prairiehomehospice.org and click on our events pages or contact Tara Plante at the Prairie Home Hospice & Community Care office at (507)337-0080.