It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Allison Eldredge

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot LIKE CHRISTMAS

by ALLISON ELDREDGE

This year, there is a new place to go, Dewey Street in Sapulpa. The Route 66 Christmas Chute has taken the place as the new “hot” spot.

Beginning in October many stores started promoting Christmas deals and were already loading up on Christmas merchandise. Walmart started loading their holiday aisles with decorations and candy before Halloween even happened.

It has started looking like Christmas around all our wonderful towns in the Corridor. Lights are hung around the towns, holiday banners and light displays are put into place. It takes several weeks for a town to get ready for Christmas, and most will want to have it all in place before their Christmas parade.

Even before light are turned on, my daughter will notice that they’ve been hung up on the light poles and trees around town.

Homes have begun putting up Christmas trees and lights in November. We all feel a certain magical sensation in seeing the lights come on. Maybe because, all of a sudden, daylight savings time has ended and darkness arrives before we are ready. Maybe because we just love the lights in the frost and fog and early snows. Maybe just because we all secretly love Christmas time and wish it could last all year long.

There are many places to make holiday memories outside of your home. Rhema in Broken Arrow, Honor Heights Park in Muskogee, and driving by Paragon Industries in Sapulpa have been some of the “go to” places to see wonderful lights in the past.

This year, there is a new place to go, Dewey Street in Sapulpa. The Route 66 Christmas Chute has taken the place as the new “hot” spot.

I started seeing their posts on Facebook early this year and I thought, what a great idea! As the year progressed, and the vision became clearer and things were put into place…I thought what an amazing idea!

Earlier in January of this year, they got the full support of Sapulpa City Council, which was a good thing since they were shutting down several blocks of a main road through Sapulpa.

They had 10 teams and started working on prototypes. Each team was responsible for a different theme such as: Gingerbread, Candy Land, Let it Snow, and Nativity.

The town came behind them and donated time, money, zip ties, decorations, and gorilla glue. Sapulpa Chieftain Athletics came to help with the lights in July and the sheer number of volunteers made the job possible and it was completed in one hour.

Starting October 1st, Sapulpa closed Dewey Street and the Chute was built. On October 10, the teams began decorating by putting their dreams on the actual Chute.

On November 3rd, Santa and reindeer and people from all over showed up for the “Lights On” ceremony. It was a huge success.

Sapulpa and her local merchants have a unique experience for all of Oklahoma. Every weekend, there are special events and food trucks. Check out Okie Igloo Village, and book your own private igloo at okiekidzinflatables.com. They are large enough to seat 6-8 adults. There are three igloos available for rent and can be combined for large groups. Many of the merchants are offering extended hours for visitors to shop while they enjoy the Chute.

The Route 66 Christmas Chute is open 8am to 11pm daily until the end of the year. They have already had a wedding on site, a snow dusting, and many memories made by visitors.

Check out route66christmaschute.com for a map of parking, a list of events, and more information.

This is a must see and I can’t wait to get out there soon.

Merry Christmas! n