AFTER - With the "on" button pressed, the new decorations were lit for the first time the evening of Thursday, Dec. 4. They will continue shining into February so that they add a festive touch to after-dark Sleigh and Cutter activities.
Waseca ceremony lights up the season
Thu, 12/11/2025 - 3:45am
“The spirit of Waseca is alive, resilient and shining long before a single bulb is switched on,” declared Mikhail Rostislavovich, president of the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, as a robust crowd of community members gathered at the Waseca Art Center on the evening of December 4 for the debut of the city’s new decorative holiday lights.
The project was made possible through a steering committee under Waseca Tourism and special partnerships. Chamber Executive Director Robin Dulas was an integral part of the project, working diligently behind the scenes. The snowflake-shaped decorations were funded by generous financial contributions from local Waseca civic organizations and some individuals, with the City of Waseca providing staff to mount the lights on downtown streetlight poles.
The 6 p.m. reception featured performances by the Waseca High School sextet singers and members of the jazz band, setting a festive tone before brief remarks from Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman, Sleigh and Cutter committee member Kelly Miller, and Rostislavovich.
Zimmerman asked members of the Holiday Lights Committee to stand for recognition, stating, “Tonight’s lighting is more than a switch being flipped; it is the culmination of teamwork, unity, and an unwavering investment in a shared vision.” Committee members include Robin Dulas, Brad Dushaw, Tim Roessler, Stacey Schroeder, Ashley Semmann, Jill Sollin-Strauss, Briana Worke, as well as Rostislavovich and Zimmerman.
Miller emphasized the broader impact: “Investing in these lights was an opportunity to help create a downtown that reflects the warmth and hospitality Waseca is known for. We believe that when our community looks its best, families come out, businesses thrive, and visitors feel welcomed into something special.”
Rostislavovich explained that the new lights represent “phase one” of a three-part initiative to enhance downtown Waseca, with future phases including lights outlining building edges and upgrades at Trowbridge Park.
At 6:30 p.m., Rostislavovich, Miller, and Zimmerman joined hands on an outdoor switch beneath one of the streetlights, and crisp white snowflakes illuminated both sides of downtown State Street. The decorations will remain operational through December and into February for the Sleigh and Cutter events.