The “Lighting of the Fort” will be back with a bang on Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Fort Seward parade grounds.

“It starts at 5 o’clock sharp,” said coordinator Annette Smith. “The great cannon here in front will blast, and all the lights of the fort will come up.”

Fort Seward has hosted the celebration since 2002.

“It’s put on by the residents of Fort Seward,” Smith said. “It’s kind of our gift to the community, because the lights will stay up throughout the season, and people like to come by and cruise through.”

The event also will include a Venturer Scouts bonfire, carols, a Nativity play organized by Holly Davis, “potluck weenie roast” and sledding party, Smith said.

“It’s kind of a hark back to the early days of the fort when everybody would come over and join in and have fun and go sledding on the parade grounds,” she said.

Smith said she hopes the “Lighting of the Fort” will draw a crowd of about 100 people.

“It gets the mood of the Christmas spirit going,” she said.

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