UPDATED CHRISTMAS LIGHTS COMING IN 2026
A tradition of Christmas lights on Main Street in Platte City will continue this year–and will be updated with new lights next year, under a plan announced by the Platte City Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber officials Jamie Kacz and Megan Hubbard recently approached the Platte City Board of Aldermen with a request for assistance in covering the cost of new holiday lights that are traditionally strung on buildings lining Main Street downtown.
The estimated cost for new lights, including installation, is $16,000.
After discussion, the City of Platte City has agreed to fund $8,000 of the cost. The chamber will be raising money to come up with the other $8,000.
“We’re thrilled that the city has approved funding to help replace the beloved holiday lights on Main Street for 2026,” Kacz told The Landmark this week.
“To help raise the remaining $8,000, we’re partnering with Creative Coatings of Platte City to launch our brand new Holiday Shop, featuring limited-edition merchandise including shirts, cozy sweatshirts and our very special 2025 Holiday Lighting Ornament,” she said.
Only 75 of the ornaments are available. The ornaments are handcrafted by Amber Brune of Platte City using pieces of the original Main Street holiday lights, she said.
“Each one is a small piece of Platte City history, a perfect keepsake for anyone who cherishes our community’s holiday spirit,” Kacz said.
Cost of an ornament is $10, and all proceeds from the Holiday Shop will go directly toward the lighting fund, she added.
“This is a new tradition we plan to bring back every year,” remarked Kacz, executive director of the chamber of commerce.
STICKING WITH
CLEAR LIGHTS
Ever since the tradition of Christmas lights in Downtown Platte City was begun decades ago, the lights on the businesses have always been clear–no colored lights.
There was some discussion in recent weeks about opting for colored lights when the new ones get ordered, but ultimately the decision has been made to stick with clear. The option of color would have cost a bit more, but the cost difference was not significant. Kacz recently told The Landmark she prefers sticking with clear because the white lights help better illuminate the downtown streets.
“We’ll be continuing the timeless tradition of classic white lights that have made Main Street sparkle for decades,” she said this week.
Kacz said Jacob Blankenship will be helping the chamber replace any burned-out bulbs on buildings this year, in the final year of the existing strands of lights.
She praised Bill Collins, a volunteer who for many years was the driving force behind getting the lights up and bulbs replaced. Collins’s age and health now make it difficult for him to have a physically active role in the tradition.
Platte City’s Holiday Lighting Ceremony will continue as a night-before-Thanksgiving annual event. It is typically the largest festival held in Downtown Platte City each year.
