Downtown Yachats will shine extra bright Monday, Dec. 21, when hundreds of paper lanterns called luminarias will festoon the sidewalks to celebrate people who have been a “point of light” in others’ lives. The lanterns — a Southwestern U.S. tradition — are simply paper bags, weighted down with sand, and lit with small candles.
A fundraising event by Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, the project has already financed some 600 luminarias at $5 each. Donors specify the name of the person they want to honor, and the name of each “luminary” — someone who enlightens others, or shines like a figurative star — is printed on each bag.
Planned to take place from 5-9 p.m., the lantern display is scheduled for winter solstice, the longest night of the year. That’s also the night of Yachats’ traditional solstice bonfire, which was cancelled for 2020 over coronavirus concerns. If stormy weather forces a postponement, the luminarias will be displayed on the next clear night.
“In these trying times of pandemic, isolation and political polarization, how do we remember that a light still shines in the darkness?” said Pastor Bob Barrett. “We thought this was a way to do that—to honor people who’ve been points of light.”
The cut-off date to purchase luminarias is Dec. 14. They may be purchased online at the YCPC website or by calling the church office at 541-547-3400. Proceeds will be used to support the mission and ministry of the church.
