SoKY’s Choice: Light Up Glasgow Draws Big Crowd as Holiday Season Begins

GLASGOW, Ky. (WNKY) – A large crowd filled downtown Glasgow on Saturday as the city officially kicked off the holiday season with its annual Light Up Glasgow celebration, an event organizers say continues to grow each year.

Kevin Myatt, a member of the Glasgow Renaissance Committee, said the gathering has become a community staple centered on local students who perform throughout the night. “It’s a fantastic event that allows the community to come together and watch the kids… It’s a time for us to be together and know what this means for us all,” Myatt said. 

Myatt said turnout appeared strong, possibly larger than last year. “Every year it seems to get bigger and bigger… I feel like we probably had more individuals here this time,” he said. 

This year’s event followed the community’s “Neon Christmas” theme as organizers handed out glowsticks, light-up toys and neon ornaments tied to next month’s Glasgow Christmas Parade. “We were really going after that Neon Christmas… and parlay into the largest nighttime parade in the state of Kentucky,” Myatt said. 

Choirs from across Glasgow and Barren County performed throughout the evening. Barren County High School choir director Byron Lucas said the event has expanded significantly since he first attended. “It brings the whole community together… it’s like a Hallmark movie,” he said, noting the smiles during the final countdown each year. 

Glasgow High School principal Joey Norman said the celebration offers a rare moment of unity among separate school systems. “We don’t see colors when it comes time for holidays… it’s always great to bring us all together and celebrate for one cause,” Norman said. 

Children attending the event said they enjoyed the lights, music and the chance to see Santa on the square. One young visitor, Carson, described it as “a good event for everyone… brought people together to see lots of different stuff, have a good time.” Another child said the experience helps younger kids believe in the holiday spirit: “They’ll know that he’s real,” he said. 

The celebration featured towering Christmas trees, student musicians wandering the square, and long lines for Santa. Even families who missed the actual countdown said the night still delivered. One child said it was simply “fun to do stuff around and get out of the house.” 

Light Up Glasgow is expected to return next year as one of the community’s most popular holiday traditions.

SoKY’s Choice is brought to you by J. C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapels.