Ronan group aims to light up the Big Sky for holidays

One group within the county is looking to light up the Big Sky incorporating family traditions this holiday season by giving residents a place to make memories.

Angie Collins, one of the members of that group, said “five strangers were hand-picked” by Lake County resident Marie Hirsch, who thought of the idea of lights following a visit to Silverton, Oregon.

Lights Under the Big Sky will be an opportunity for visitors to have wholesome family fun, Collins said, and will take place from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24 at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Ronan.

The town of Silverton, Collins explained, decorates its botanical garden with holiday lights.

During her visit, Hirsch thought that a similar idea could be brought back to Lake County, giving families the opportunity to create memories.

Upon her return, Hirsch organized a steering committee to start research.

The steering committee includes: Collins, representing the Polson Chamber of Commerce and French, Grainey & Williams in Ronan; Brandy Chisolm from the Ronan Chamber of Commerce and Access Montana; Jack Stivers of the Montana State University Extension and Friends of the Fairground; Sjann Vincent, a retired resident and Friends of the Fairground; and Vicki Radford, a retired resident involved “in multiple groups within the county,” Collins said.

Collins explained that the group was chosen because each person is from a different part of Lake County, bringing “a different perspective.”

The steering committee conducted surveys to organize data for a feasibility study, which details whether the event would work in Lake County.

Research for the study began last December. The surveys were presented by the committee to County Commisserions as well as organizations from the area.

The group determined that the cost to decorate barns and the fairgrounds at about $40,000, according to the feasibility study, and Collins said that the team is about halfway to their goal.

Most of the monies that have been raised are through grants, which Hirsch has helped obtain, Collins said.

Currently, the committee is looking for sponsors to help fund the event, she added.

Each barn will have activities, Collins said.

Examples she provided were Santa Claus will have his own barn while in another, live music will be offered.

Visitors will be able to walk around the grounds, warmed by eight outdoor fire pits.

“We want to have wholesome family fun,” Collins said.

Kids activities will be included through each weekend in December, with Sundays designated as a family day.

Cost of tickets are still in the process of being determined, Collins said, but she confirmed that there will be family rates.

Organizers anticipate the event to grow in size and attendance,

For more information regarding Lights Under the Big Sky, contact Brandy Chisolm at 676-3300 or visit www.bigskylights.org.