Happy Retreat Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights will be on from December 5 through the New Year. Please drive or walk by to enjoy the brilliant display. Thank you to all who have worked to make this happen. A special thanks goes to Citizens Fire Company for bringing their ladder truck over to put the lights on the holly tree.

The past several years we have held a Christmas Open House at Happy Retreat. Under the leadership of board member Robin Huyett Thomas, the house has been beautifully decorated with holiday finery. Apple cider, cookies and seasonal music have combined to create a festive event which has brought hundreds of visitors each year. This year the pandemic prevents us from holding an indoor event.

Instead, working with the City of Charles Town, Downtown Charles Town and the City of Ranson, we are creating an outdoor Festival of Lights. The beautiful holly tree in the center of the driveway circle and eight small dogwood trees in front of and along either side of the house will be decorated with sparkling LED lights. The lights for the holly tree are being given in honor of R.J. Funkhouser by the Fithian family. R.J. Funkhouser was the grandfather of Dr. Taylor Fithian, who with his wife Margie, made the acquisition of Happy Retreat possible. The smaller trees are being decorated by the following local organizations and businesses: Dandridge Realty, Sierra Pacific Mortgage, Charles Town Rotary, Atoka Properties, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation, Jefferson Arts Council, Citizens National Bank and South Charles Town Neighbors. The front door and the windows will be festooned with seasonal greens and the front façade of the house will be illuminated with floodlights donated by Marty Kable.

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