Event to feature first Christmas tree lighting

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Joyce Willeke agrees that her WyoRing Handbell Choirs and the All Is Bright event of holiday festivities are a good fit.

“If we can bring a little bit of joy to people this time of the year, that’s great,” Willeke said of her WyoRing Handbell Choirs being part of the All Is Bright event, a two-day celebration.

Willeke twice said “fun” in a seven-and-a-half minute call to describe All Is Bright.

“I think it gets the bell choir out and people can hear it and go shopping as we are playing,” Willeke said.

Indeed, shopping is a component of the event, which will run Dec. 6–7 in downtown Torrington, Wyo.

And so is a lot more. Besides the WyoRing Handbell Choirs’ performance, All Is Bright will include approximately 19 other functions.

For Sandy Hoehn, a co-organizer of the event, it’s about wanting to give Christmas experiences for children regardless of their parents’ income levels.

“The only thing that they have to pay for is if they want to buy dinner at the Java Jar and then the kids’ paint zone,” Hoehn pointed out. “But everything else is free — and that’s probably my favorite part, is that we can provide that for the kids. … Regardless of what their parents’ income levels are, (children) still can have a fun holiday.”

All Is Bright co-organizer Sandy Hoehn works in her office in Torrington, Wyo. (MARK GASCHLER/Star-Herald)

Hoehn and co-organizer Molly Childs’ hearts to out to such children because they each have little ones themselves.

“I want the atmosphere to reflect this is what the holidays are all about,” Hoehn said. “It’s a free event with multiple things that people can do. … It’s a two-day event of just celebrating Christmas and letting (parents) make memories with their kiddos.”

Around 500 children participate in the event, Hoehn said.

“It’s a contagious atmosphere when all the kids are giddy,” Hoehn said.

Hoehn is “super-excited” to get help from City of Torrington Building Official Dennis Estes and Mayor Randy Adams to do the town’s first-ever Christmas tree lighting. The Goshen County courthouse has provided their property for the tree.

All Is Bright

The challenge is the same every year: Hoehn has a great volume of vendors to reach for the event.

“Everybody is so willing to volunteer and do it,” Hoehn said. “It definitely is a community event. … It’s nice to pull people (onto) our main street.”

Hoehn also doesn’t like to assume that stores will given what they have provided in the past.

“I really just want to be able to touch base with everyone and make sure and making them know … everything they are volunteering with,” Hoehn said.

“We’re busy; everyone else is busy; the holidays come earlier than we realize; the days roll by so fast,” Hoehn added.

Touching base with all of the participants in the event is a challenge.

“We don’t want to miss somebody or forget somebody,” Hoehn said. “Because everyone is busy this time of year with school and everything else.”

Organizing All Is Bright starts in late August or early September. That’s when organizers, including Hoehn, look at the list from a year before and see what they can do to improve.

Stores in town go into extended hours for the event, usually the first Friday and Saturday in December.

The event gives folks the opportunity to touch and feel stores’ products, Hoehn said.

Organizers, including Hoehn, invited a local liquor vendor to participate so that participants can enjoy an evening with their relatives who are out of town, Hoehn said.

Hoehn loves seeing the Kiwanis Builders Club helping children with cookie decorating.

“It’s so fun to watch them because it’s a junior high club,” Hoehn said. “Even though we consider them a younger generation, they are the ones in charge; they are the ones teaching the younger generation and it’s teaching them so many life skills as well.”