Car Crash Takes Out Part of the Downtown Christmas Light Tour

We were unable to get in contact with the Concho Christmas director this afternoon, but we were assured by workers on the ground that the light show will go on, albeit without the popular drive-through light tunnel. Patrons touring the lights this evening will be routed around the light tunnel and miss the popular Christmas card exhibit. The rest of the Christmas lights show is already illuminated and awaiting carloads of people.

The damage appears extensive. It is customary to donate $5 per carload to tour the lights. Consideration can be given to pitch in a few more dollars to help defray the costs of repairing the light tunnel.

The Christmas light tour has been impacted this year by COVID-19. Earlier this year, the committee announced the tour may not happen because the prison labor — county jail trustees — were not going to be allowed to assist in erecting the lights, amid COVID transmission concerns. Keeping COVID out of the jail, where the highly contagious disease spreads quickly, was an immediate migration concern of local and state authorities.

The show must go on, however, and arrangements were made to erect as many of the light displays as possible.

The Christmas light tour starts at the entrance at the intersection of 1st St. and N. Abe St., the roadway that runs along the north side of the downtown San Angelo Post Office. It starts when it gets dark and ends at around 11 p.m.