Benedum Civic Center fully decorated after collaboration by various community organizations

The garden club was formed in the early 1980s to care for the beautification of the civic center, but in recent years those responsibilities have shifted to the Bridgeport Parks and Recreation, which is located inside the building.

“We do pretty much all of the putting up of everything and all of that kind of stuff. They come in and they wrap packages and things like that,” said Sally Hastings, a Parks and Recreation employee.

Hastings said Garden Club members and city employees start planning the decorations in September.

“We had several discussion this year about whether we wanted to change something or purchase something new,” Hastings said. “This year we purchased two new 6-foot nutcrackers — they are beautiful — and a new sleigh and two new reindeer.”

Ladies from the Garden Club started making bows and other small decorations in October, and city employees started pulling all of the other decorations out of storage.

Charlene Keener, adviser for the Key Club at BHS, said nine of her students volunteered this year to help hang the decorations.

“We’ve helped the garden club for many years — that’s what Key Club is all about, community service,” Keener said.

She said in the 10 years she’s been the club’s adviser, this event has always been one of the more exciting for the students.

“The kids just really enjoy doing it,” Keener said. “They’ll go back after the holidays are over and they’ll help take the decorations down.”

Emery Smith, a senior at BHS and co-president of the Key Club, said the activity helps the students build team-working skills in a fun, relaxing atmosphere.

“It’s kind of neat. We get to come out in a different atmosphere and work with people in a festive way,” Smith said. “Once you stop believing in Santa Claus, you need another way to get in the spirit.”

Hastings said that while there are decorations in nearly every room of the Civic Center, the ballroom is likely the most decorated room in the entire building. The centerpiece is a 12-foot Christmas tree — the grand tree — which sits across from a 7-foot tree.

“We do right down to the banisters. Everything is pretty much decorated,” Hasting said.

There are several Christmas-themed baskets that hang from the roof of the front porch as well.

The efforts of everyone’s hard work will be on display for city residents who attend the annual Light Up Night that begins at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3 in downtown.

“Some people will come in to just look around, and we welcome that,” Hastings said.

The Civic Center also will offer hot chocolate and candy canes during the city’s Christmas parade, along with a live Santa and Mrs. Claus.