Rose Crossing luminaria show won't shine this year
For the first time in decades, luminarias will not line Rose Crossing on Christmas Eve.
The Lister family has spearheaded the effort for nearly 25 years, but as neighbors have come and gone and the Listers’ children have married and moved away, the task of making, placing and lighting 1,500 luminarias has become too much for Kim and Mark Lister.
Over the years, the Listers have invested hundreds of dollars and countless hours of their holiday time to line the two-mile stretch of road that winds between U.S. 2 East and Whitefish Stage Road with luminarias, at times battling wind and rain, snow and even blizzards so the community could enjoy the peaceful and beautiful display.
“It takes 10 hours to get ready to put them out,” Kim Lister said, “and at least five more to place them all — and that’s if the weather is good.”
This year the Listers regretfully decided to forgo the tradition in the hope that some club, church group or organization will take it over next year.
“We just have too many irons in the fire,” said Lister, who is teaching third grade full-time at Linderman School and also supervises exchange students during the year. Mark is a construction contractor and the Listers also own their own business, Glacier RV and Boats.
The Listers used to order the candles in October from a business in New York where they could get them as cheaply as possible. Then they had sand delivered to their shop that had to be cleared every year to make room for the project.
The bags had to be cut down to the right size so the candles would stay burning, Lister said.
Usually on the Sunday before Christmas, friends, relatives and neighbors came over in the afternoon to start the luminaria assembly process and load them onto flats to carry them out to the road.
On Christmas Eve the luminarias were carefully placed along both sides of the road and lit. On Christmas Day it took several hours in the morning to pick them up, dump the sand and burn the sacks and candles.
“I have loved this tradition and know the community has, too. It’s been so difficult to let this go,” Lister said.
“We’ll be here to help and mentor anyone who would like to continue the luminaria display along Rose Crossing,” Lister said. “We’ve fine-tuned it and have worked hard to maximize every resource.
“Rose Crossing is like a country road. It’s a special place and I think everyone has enjoyed the serenity of the luminarias. It would be awesome if someone could continue the tradition. I would love to see that.”
Anyone who would like to help may call Lister at 261-2084.
Two other displays of luminarias are planned elsewhere in the valley this year.
For 11 years, Friendship House in Kalispell has celebrated the season and remembered loved ones by sponsoring a luminaria display along its walkway on Dec. 23 and 24.
“Light the Walk” is a fundraiser for the nonprofit assisted living home at 606 Second Ave. W. Part of a neighborhood district that is listed on the National Historic Register, the home originally was the Miller Mansion, built in 1901.
To purchase a luminaria for $10, call Jim at 752-6885 or Carol at 755-5169.
Luminarias will light the way Christmas Eve along U.S. 93 through Lakeside.
Every year, neighbors put together 400 to 500 luminarias in the afternoon at Lakeside Community Chapel, then place them along U.S. 93 from Bierney Creek Road south to Blacktail Mountain Road. More are placed leading up to the church and along a few side streets.
Joanne Vagg, a longtime member of the church, melts down candle stubs from the chapel and donated candles to make the votive candles that are used in the luminarias. Members of the community are invited to help put them together beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at the church.
The display is lit at dusk and lasts for several hours.
Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by e-mail at community@dailyinterlake.com.