The annual Lighting of the Fort holiday observance is taking a season off.

Annette Smith, who has helped organize the event for 10 years, said she won’t be around this year to take care of the lights during the holiday. “Over time, they tend to fall down or stop working,” she said.

Also, because other Fort Seward residents are away this year, the event would have been difficult to pull off.

Launched as part of the Fort centennial celebration in 2004, the celebration typically includes a simultaneous lighting of Christmas lights along Officer’s Row, a crèche scene, a path of luminaria, carols, a bonfire and wienie roast. It’s been held on the first Saturday in December.

Smith said she’s not ruling out holding the celebration in the future, but she’d like to think of something new to incorporate in the event.