Annual luminaria display to light up neighborhood

Tradition will brighten the streets again Sunday night from the Indian Hills Neighborhood in southern Lawrence.

The annual luminaria display started in 1984 and involves neighbors putting sacks and candles in their yards.

“It’s a way to get neighbors introduced to neighbors, and to get more or less a community sort of feeling in the area,” said Jeanne Ellermeier, a longtime member of the neighborhood association.

Ellermeier helped start the luminaria tradition with her friend and neighbor Joyce Wolf and other neighbors. It is always the Sunday before Christmas.

Ellermeier said the tradition spread to include as many as 4,000 candles some years, and long lines of cars drove through the neighborhood.

But as families have moved away it has been more difficult to get as many residents involved, she said.

The project involves putting sand in the bottom of a white paper sack and a candle inside. The flame gives off a white glow through the sack.

Neighborhood association leaders will give away donated sacks, sand and candles to residents who want to participate from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Indian Hills Church of God, 601 W. 29th Terrace.

Penny’s Concrete Co. is furnishing the sand, R.D. Johnson Excavating Co. will haul the sand and Party America is donating the white sacks, Ellermeier said.

The lit area typically includes houses between Louisiana Street and Naismith Park and 24th Street and 29th Terrace.