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34 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 In this series, we turn to the passionate Maconites, those who call this vibrant city home, to curate their very own guides to experiencing downtown Macon. Whether you are a resident seeking to rediscover your city or a curious visitor eager to immerse yourself in the local culture, these guides will open doors to new ideas and lasting memories. Discover what defines downtown Macon: from feeling the energy of our bustling streets and exploring historic landmarks to savoring the mouthwatering cuisine and engaging with the vibrant arts and music scene. We'll let the insiders share more. On Poplar Street, winter nights aren't dark and dreary. They're filled with sound and color. At the Christmas Light Extravaganza, you can experience over one million lights moving in time to music arranged and performed by Macon Pops, each song featuring a special local artist. The Extravaganza began in 2016, when Bryan Nichols of Taste & See and Macon Rocks reimagined a public space, envisioning the life a colorful canopy of lights would bring to the district. He won a Downtown Challenge grant through the generous support of the Peyton Anderson Foundation, Knight Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, which funded the first year's 250,000-light show. It has grown ever since, becoming an innovative economic tool for the revitalization of Poplar Street, and creating a tradition that delights locals and tourists alike. Volunteers like SARAH MULLIS are integral to the success of these community traditions. Sarah's joy in this work inspires us to get out there and have fun making Macon a better, brighter place. What do you love most about Downtown Macon? There is always something to do! There is always some sort of live entertainment. I never have to watch sports alone, go to concerts alone, take a walk alone, nothing, if I don't want to. I love all of the people I've met since moving downtown. How did you decide to get involved with the Christmas Light Extravaganza, and how has it grown or changed over the years? I love the extravaganza! I remember the first year I went. I made plans to meet friends at Just Tap'd in 2018, not realizing just how big of a deal the Extravaganza was! In 2020, I would take walks up Poplar and would always see Bryan out there working. Only Bryan, no one else. We would speak, and I would tell him how excited I was. After a few weeks of only seeing him working on the lights, I realized he needed help, so I stopped and asked if he needed any. At that point, he was almost done, and we just continued speaking as I walked by each day. I told him I would be back on January 4 to help in whatever way I could. I'm certain he didn't believe me. I've been going back ever since. I think he believes me now. Since then we have added an extra block (3rd between Poplar and Plum). It is super bright and amazing! It is definitely my favorite area! What's your favorite part of volunteering with the Extravaganza? I just like helping where I can. I don't really consider it "volunteering." If someone can use an extra hand, and I'm not busy, then why not help? I love walking through the lights every day. I love seeing the smiles on faces as they walk through. I love hearing everyone laugh and have fun while taking photos and enjoying themselves. I love that it brings such a diverse crowd that can enjoy this event together. I love seeing Facebook posts from people, who have no idea that I'm involved, but they are really just enjoying the moment and forgetting about everything else in life for an hour or two. I love that my nieces and nephew think it's "cool" that I help, and they enjoy walking through it each year. I love that it brings people downtown that wouldn't normally come downtown, or that are not from this area at all, and they are able to see what Downtown Macon has to offer. All of the hard work pays off when the lights come on, and I see those things. I immediately forget about the process it took to get there and appreciate the fact that I had a part in making those smiles happen. READY TO SEE THE LIGHTS? From Nov. 24 to Jan. 3, lights will glow between 6 and 11 p.m. Music-synced shows begin at the top of the hour at 6, 7, 8, and 9 p.m. and last 45 minutes. For a full event calendar, plus helpful details like parking information, visit maconchristmaslightextravaganza.com M y M a c o n I N P A R T N E R S H I P W I T H N E W T O W N M A C O N I N S I D E R G U I D E S T O D O W N T O W N M A C O N Sarah Mullis