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Here's Some Of The Work That Goes Into The Canopy Of Lights

The Canopy of Lights is a tradition that dates back 30 years where thousands of lights illuminate the downtown square of Bloomington. Crews will flip the switch on Friday.

The Scale Of The Project

At one time right around 200,000 lights stretching approximately 28 miles in length, lit up downtown Bloomington. This was the case when all the trees in the downtown square were fully mature in size, but many have had to be replaced because they were dead or dying.

The older trees were replaced with much smaller trees meaning the light count is down considerably according to CFC Properties President Jim Murphy. He estimates the lights are down by about 60,000 lights.

Through the years CFC Properties has two to four employees who work solely on the lights on the trees as well as operate two bucket trucks used for the maintenance.

Monroe County uses around four employees to maintain the lights on the canopy, the lights that stretch from building around the square to the courthouse. According to Monroe County staff, workers replace lights as needed every few year. When replacing the lights is involved, it takes what the staff call, "a small army."

Canopy_of_Lights_

CFC Properties keeps the lights on the trees for three years and replaces them every fourth year which Murphy says takes much more time. CFC employees call it "Christmas in July" because that's when work on the lights begins.

This year is the third year of the cycle for CFC so, in mid-January when the Canopy of Lights is shut off, all the lights on the trees will come off in preparation for new ones next year.

Murphy says the lighting usually draws between five and eight thousand people to the annual celebration. He says the work put into the project every year isn't nearly as important as the joy it brings to the community.

"Our goal is to provide a nice, happy, fun event and environment for people downtown during the holiday season," Murphy says.

The Canopy of Lights brightens up the square on Friday, Nov. 27. The event begins at 6 p.m.

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