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This time of year, our state glows because *** lot of Iowans put up *** few lights and plenty more. Put up *** lot more. And then there are the cities that go all out. Pretty much painting with lights, magnifying the twinkle by *** million from border to border Iowa's town squares draw December. Shoppers determined to keep their dollars local and most host an out of town visitor. What do you want for Christmas? She wants *** kitty cat mom asking for lists and giving away second grade memories that will stick. But the four o'clock visitor headed to Santa is the first hint these next few hours set Oskaloosa Square apart. If you've never been here, it's something you like you've never seen because with every clump of those bells that keep multiplying, the crowd headed toward Mahaska County seat keeps growing. The first Saturday night in December can draw 13,000 people and it doesn't sound like *** lot, but this is from *** town that's 13,000. And the bad thing about it is they all know who I am because I'm *** real, which is why he also knows that at precisely 430 winter's gray gets booted out of town by *** flood of colors brighter than *** 50 gallon drum from Sherwin Williams. This is the community coming together. Even the courthouse glows. But as the sun sets, it's also the heads up to find *** spot, then you may be stopped by the judges watch for the police because the even brighter tradition is setting up around the corner. There's going to be tons of people here because it's such *** big thing. And *** Hallmark movie script couldn't have more perfectly timed. The snowflakes just starting to fall. It's not as cold as what we were thinking it was going to be. So we're happy about that. The church angels are ready and the full year of planning it took to pull off Mahaska drugs float is paying off, their lights are all working. We usually start in January trying to figure out what we want to do for the next year. This year is the Polar Express. One of 70 entries in one of the state's largest lighted Christmas parades that will be led by the squad car sporting Rudolph's nose. By the time the brass ensemble in the gazebo wraps up Hark, the Herald, the crowd catching snowflakes on their tongues was three people deep all here for the parade. Now, rolling, featuring every drummer and every trumpet player wearing lights. My sister is actually one of the bands. She plays the trombone and Estelle and every other white eyed kid along the route. Can't believe the glow. Look at those lights they like because the businesses that build floats don't just duct tape *** net of lights to their cars. They go all in building *** motorized Polar Express dancing inside larger than life illuminated characters or lighting up *** train so bright Santa in the caboose almost needs shades. They put all this time. But why, why put this much effort into *** parade that will be done in 90 minutes? I think there's *** lot of people in Oskaloosa that really just get it. They give the Christmas spirit and it's even better when frozen is just *** theme. Not an experience. It makes it *** perfect night for *** Christmas parade. Middle school teachers in other towns might dress up as Cindy Lou and the Grinch too. Here. That backdrop of 300,000 led s the square's dancing lights and another 300,000 in the parade itself pushes the twinkles this night past *** million. There is *** lot of people, 16,000 all on the square. For one reason, the basking all that illuminated joy just makes me happy, making people happy and seeing the kids and the adults and the grandpas, the grandchildren all happy. That's, that's what it's all about.