Hotel Bothwell ready to shine for annual lighting

A Thanksgiving Day tradition for many Sedalia families will continue this year with the lighting of the Hotel Bothwell and fireworks display.

The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. downtown on Thanksgiving. It’s the 11th year for the hotel lighting and the fourth year fireworks have been added to the festivities, said Meg Liston, administrator of Sedalia Downtown Development Inc. (SDDI). The event has grown from several hundred to several thousand.

“It’s a community-wide event for the holiday kickoff,” she said. “It’s becoming more of a tradition with families after they’re finished with their Thanksgiving dinner. ... It’s a great opportunity to run into people you haven’t seen in a while.”

A stage will be set up at South Ohio Avenue and Fifth Street. Performer’s from “A Sedalia Christmas,” a holiday play opening Dec. 4 at the Liberty Center, are scheduled to sing starting at 6:40 p.m. The countdown to lighting is set to begin at 7 p.m., with a fireworks display set to music immediately following.

Coffee and hot chocolate will be available for $1.

“McDonald’s has offered to bring in a cantina so they will be providing coffee and hot chocolate and they will be accepting donations to go to our expenses,” Liston said.

SDDI sponsors the professional sound company to provide music, which costs $2,500. The organization is soliciting donations of $25 to $50 from downtown businesses to pay for the expense. In the past, Liston has sent out fewer requests asking for larger donations.

“With the economy this year, we are just sending out more and asking for smaller help,” she said.