Chapel Hill to be lit for the holidays

29 Dec 8:29 p.m. - Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly stated the price of the lights and the date of the tree lighting ceremony. The lights cost $1800, and the Downtown Partnership. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

Starting this year, string lights will adorn the windows of downtown businesses to the tune of $19,000.

For the first time, the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership and Friends of the Downtown are giving away 182 free strands of holiday lights to all downtown businesses.

“We can’t light the trees like they do on Michigan Street in Chicago but we can light the windows,” said Friends of the Downtown chair Pat Evans, who suggested the idea to Jim Norton, the executive director of the Downtown Partnership.

Initially, Norton suggested charging for the LED lights. But Evans said that giving away the lights would highlight the town’s appreciation of the businesses.

The cost for the lights totalled $19,000, said Meg McGurk, assistant director of the Downtown Partnership. The bill will be split in half by the two organizations’ operating budgets.

“It is not costing the public anything, so I think they will be very receptive to it,” Evans said. “This is a very small amount considering that the businesses can use them year after year.”

The lights have already begun to be delivered to area businesses. Business owners are being asked to hang them by Friday, when the Downtown Partnership will hold a community tree lighting ceremony at University Baptist Church.

Sugarland owner Katrina Ryan said they have their own decorations and probably will not use the lights provided, but they appreciate the Downtown Partnership and Friends of the Downtown’s efforts to bring continuity to the street.

“However, it is nice for the hairdressers, the Blue Horn Lounge and businesses who don’t usually decorate,” she said. “It’s going to be funny if the Blue Horn Lounge puts up lights.”

Ryan isn’t sure if the effort will be noticed.

“Seventy percent of the public probably won’t notice a single LED strand of lights in a big storefront,” she said. “I would like them to send more money on parking instead.”

Freshman Allison Blankenship said the lights will be festive.

 “Seeing Franklin Street transformed into a winter wonderland would cause more students and businesses to embrace the holiday spirit,” Blankenship said.

Freshman Forrest Petterson said the lights could bring the town together.

“Lights are good for the holiday season because it represents a component of every holiday — Hanukkah, Kwanza and Christmas,” she said. “Anywhere that you go you’ll find holiday decorations since it brings people together and creates a sense of home.”

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.