BY LUCIE KRISMAN
Kristina Ormsby gets in the Christmas spirit by opening her home as a hot chocolate stop for hayride-goers during the holiday season.
"It's fun seeing everybody, and the kids are excited," she said.
The Holiday Lights Hayrides, hosted by the Eudora Parks and Recreation Department, began this week and will continue until Dec. 19. The rides are offered at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each ride lasts about one hour and a $2 donation per rider is requested.
Parks and Recreation Director Sally Pennington said she is excited to continue previous director Gary Scott's tradition of taking residents on a tour through Eudora's brightest Christmas lights.
"It's one of his great traditions that we want to keep alive," she said.
There are 23 spots available per ride. Pennington said the extra promoting on Facebook helped spike attendance for the hayrides this year.
"We're usually pretty full, especially when the kids are out of school," she said. "It's been a well-attended event."
Although the route changes every year, Pennington said the tour will go through Eudora's main streets, as well as through residential neighborhoods. This year, new lights were also added to the Parks and Recreation center, where the ride begins.
"It's a good way for everybody to see all the lights in Eudora," Pennington said. "It's just a fun way for everybody to see the rec center but also get a little tour of what the city has been up to."
The ride makes a halfway stop at 12th and Oak, where guests can enjoy hot chocolate and candy canes at the Ormsbys’ home.
"We love Christmas," Ormsby said. "I take care of the inside, and he [Drapper] does the outside."
Eudora resident Brynn Rodger said the tour is something her family enjoys during the holiday season every year.
"It's something we look forward to and get to share and experience," Rodger said. "The hot chocolate is always a good bonus."
Pennington said the Holiday Lights Hayrides are a great way for members of the community to experience parts of the town they haven't gotten the chance to see lit up yet this holiday season, whether it's the newly-lit Main Street or local businesses and neighborhoods they didn't know about.
"I think that for a small community like this, sometimes you know the town but you don't get around all sides of the town, especially at night," Pennington said. "I love it. I think it's a great thing, and we'll continue to do it."
To reserve a spot on a ride, sign up in person at the rec center or call 785-542-3434.
Reach reporter Lucie Krisman at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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