By Jessica Kaiser, Sidney (NE) Sun Telegraph
(Created: Tuesday, November 25, 2008)
 
The historic Sidney Fine Arts Center will be the new location for Sidney’s traditional lighting of the Christmas tree Friday at 5:30 p.m.

As the arts center prepares to kick off the Christmas season with hot cocoa and some holiday cheer, they will also have a special gift in store for the annual holiday event.

Monday afternoon Craig and Christy Bruner brought in a Blue Spruce from Colorado, which was planted on the grounds at the arts center and thanks to the help of Teri and Dan Wolff – owners of Ricky and Lucy’s Greenhouse – the Cheyenne County Chamber’s promotion committee was able to purchase the tree at wholesale cost.

The committee’s Larry Fraas said the group purchased the new tree specifically for the occasion.

“The tree will be planted on the east side of the building,” Fraas said.

The art center’s Jess Nelson said Teri and Dan Wolf also contributed organic mulch and supplements to give the new tree a “good start.”

Nelson said they will be doing everything organically and are calling the new addition the “millennium tree.”

The millennium tree is the place where Nelson hopes the Sidney community will gather every year over the next hundred years to ring in the Christmas season.
While several trees surrounding the arts center will be decorated with white lights, the outdoors is not the only place the arts center is featuring festive Christmas trees.

Inside the building, there is a spectacular display thanks to the generosity of other Sidney businesses.

Owners of the Book and Coffee Corner and The Fine Print helped dress up the atmosphere just in time for the holidays.

“Barb and Doug Meier contributed the trees on the stage,” Nelson said. “Marva Ellwanger decorated them.”

As the arts center continues to prepare the building to be an inviting one for the Holidays, they also have many activities scheduled throughout December to keep the spirit of Christmas alive.

“There is going to be a lot of activity at the arts center,” Nelson said.

Every Sunday they will hold musical entertainment from 1 to 3 p.m., as well as a Christmas concert which is scheduled for December 14.

Beginning Friday, the Gold Rush Days Committee will be serving chili, cinnamon rolls and a drink for a fee from 5 to 7 p.m.

Santa is also scheduled to make an appearance at the lighting of the tree and take pictures with kids.