ALIGHT: GIRL SCOUTS DIRECT FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

JACKSON -- The annual Festival of Lights that marks the start of the Christmas season in Jackson will be held at 6 p.m. today, in front of the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse.

The event is sponsored each year by the Jackson Girl Scouts, in cooperation with Jackson merchants, said Patty Reisenbichler, executive secretary of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

"Each Girl Scout troop will place white candles in white paper bags around the walkways surrounding the courthouse. At 6 p.m., each of the approximately 1,000 candles will be lit to illuminate the walkways," Reisenbichler continued. "At 6:30 p.m., the Girl Scouts will divide into three groups and sing Christmas carols on the east, south, and west steps of the courthouse."

After the caroling is completed, Santaland, located near the fountain on the south side of the courthouse, will be opened for the season. If all of the lighting is completed, the Christmas lighting decorations around the courthouse will also be turned on this evening, Reisenbicher said.

"The weather has caused some delay in getting all of them up," she added.

Reisenbichler said prior to the start of the Festival of Lights program, the scouts will serve free cookies and hot chocolate in the Courthouse Square Gazebo.