Karen Kissiah | Cheraw Chronicle More than 20 trees will brighten the nightlife of downtown businesses in Cheraw throughout the year. It is the hope of town council, and others, the festive glow of the trees will help attract visitors and improve revenue for shops and restaurants.

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Christmas has come and gone, and most people have either stored their lights for next year, or discarded them by now. But the Town of Cheraw will continue to have a festive glow all year.

“There are 20 trees on Second Street and, of course, the four big trees on Market Street that will remain lighted year round,” said Cheraw Town Administrator Mike Smith.

The recent addition of lights across the facade of the Theatre on the Green will also continue to burn throughout the year, according to Lindsay Bennett, executive director for the Cheraw Arts Commission.

Cheraw Town Council members agreed a couple of years ago, said Smith, that keeping some of the lights on might help attract visitors to downtown businesses. In December, council voted to have commercial LED lights professionally installed.

“The LED lights use less power, put out more light and last longer,” said Cheraw Mayor Andy Ingram.

“It was costing the town a lot of money in manpower to put the lights up and take them down each year,” said Ingram. And now, not only are the lights professionally installed, they are on timers; which also save money.

The whole idea is to make the town “look more inviting,” said Ingram. “We want to lure as many visitors to the downtown area as possible.”

— Staff Writer Karen Kissiah can be reached by calling 843-537-5261, or by email at kkissiah@civitasmedia.com.