Visitors take selfies with the Historical Harrison County Courthouse in the background after the opening lighting ceremony for the Wonderland of Lights on Nov. 27, 2019, in downtown Marshall. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

MARSHALL — The Wonderland of Lights festival that has marked the holiday season in Marshall since 1987 will have a reduced schedule this year after recent declines in sponsorship dollars and volunteer hours.

The city on Wednesday released this year’s schedule, which shows days of operation will be Nov. 27 — two days after Thanksgiving — through Dec. 23. Daily activities will run Thursdays through Saturdays from 6 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 9 p.m.

In recent years, the lighting to open the season’s Wonderland of Lights has taken place the day before Thanksgiving. In 2019, lights on the historic Harrison County courthouse in downtown Marshall stayed lit through Dec. 29.

Lights that adorn the downtown area this year are expected to remain lit until the beginning of January.

City officials earlier this week released a preliminary schedule of dates for this year’s festival from the Wonderland of Lights committee. After “receiving feedback from the public” about the preliminary schedule, the committee met Wednesday morning to make adjustments and landed on a plan that includes five more days that the preliminary schedule.

Main Street Manager Veronique Ramirez said in a press release that this year’s schedule was modified in hopes the change is met with increased participation from the community.

According to the city, the festival has welcomed guests from “all over” to come to town and celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

For the past three years; however, it has seen a steady decline in sponsorship dollars and volunteer hours.

This year, Wonderland will be closed on Mondays for maintenance, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be reserved for private rentals with the exception of Dec. 21 through Dec. 23, at which time it will be open to the public.

Special events are planned during the opening period, such as the traditional lighting ceremony, the annual lighted Christmas parade, the Wassail Walk and showings of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” at Memorial City Hall.

Wonderland of Lights began as a community-driven event. City officials hope to continue encouraging the spirit of community involvement through volunteerism at Wonderland of Lights. For information about how you can volunteer, call (903) 702–7777.