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Tour of lights

Brings cheer along New Ulm streets in 2020

A view of the Hauser house at 1407 South Valley Street in New Ulm.

If there’s anything that can brighten up the year of 2020 even a little bit, it’s Christmas lights.

And lots of them.

And there’s no better way to get in on all of the holiday lights than hopping in your vehicle and taking a drive around at night. This year there’s something that can help with that: the New Ulm Tour of Lights.

New Ulm Tour of Lights has a Facebook page and utilizes Google Maps to show the addresses of all homes wanting to show off their display of lights. By visiting “New Ulm Tour of Lights” on Facebook, visitors can join the group and find the Google Map of New Ulm with participating homes by clicking on announcements. Once viewing the map, dots of homes in the tour will show up, along with individual addresses in a drop-down menu after clicking on “New Ulm Holiday Lights Tour” at the bottom of the screen.

New Ulm native and Christmas enthusiast Kelsie Schultz first tried to get New Ulm Tour of Lights going in 2017, but with limited activity and participation that year, she backed off on the idea until returning to it this year with increased participation.

A view of a house participating in the tour on 1410 South Franklin Street.

“My family and I have always drove around looking at lights ever since the kids were little,” Schultz said. “We also decorate our own home with lights every year. And living in an area where there isn’t much traffic — and I know there are a lot of houses like that — I thought a lights tour would give everyone a chance to show off their holiday spirit.”

Schultz said that she never expected this tour to be so popular right away, but she’s happy to see how many homes are continuing to join the tour.

“When it started, I didn’t think that I would get as many submissions as I did,” Schultz said. “Right now we have well over 100 submissions, and I’m super thankful for everyone in our community coming together and putting it together, otherwise it would not be possible.

New Ulm Tour of Lights also received a donation from Lynn Lodes in memory of her late mother, which will go to producing a video of the light displays in town. Bobby Faerber of Faerber Films will be creating the video, and it will air on the NUCAT channel before Christmas. (No air date was announced when this lifestyle went to press. Please visit New Ulm Tour of Lights or email Schultz at Kelsieschultz15@gmail.com for more information)

“The purpose of [the video] is that I really wanted to somehow bring cheer and happiness to residents in nursing homes and hospitals that can’t go out and see the displays. And we’ll be airing it on television, and it’ll also hopefully be on Facebook for everyone.”

A view of the Boyum’s house of lights at 418 North Washington Street in New Ulm.

Those without Facebook that are interested in having their addresses added to the map are welcome to email Schultz at Kelsieschultz15@gmail.com.

Santa at the

Fairgrounds

Schultz and her mother Cindy Hauser, the Brown County Fair Vice President, have also set up a free drive-thru Santa visit from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

Schultz first mentioned the idea to her mom about using the fairgrounds for this event weeks ago, and after Hauser asked the rest of the fair board, the idea was well-received and set into motion.

A view of Schultz’s house at 1121 North Spring Street in New Ulm.

Partnering with community organizations and businesses, the city and the fire department, this event will certainly bring great holiday cheer. The event will also feature live reindeer and holiday music from the KNUJ van.

A look at a house participating in the New Ulm Tour of Lights on North Payne Street.

A view of a house participating at 1200 North Jefferson Street. When visiting this house, people are encouraged to tune their radios to 88.1 AM radio for music that plays along with a show of lights.

A look at the Google Map of the New Ulm Tour of Lights. By clicking “New Ulm Holiday Lights Tour” at the bottom of the map, it will bring up a full list of addresses in the tour

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