It’s a bit early to be thinking about the holiday season, but the volunteer team at Bentleyville is already getting plans together to celebrate their 15th anniversary. Although, the reason they are starting before Labor Day weekend this year is because they have big plans for Bayfront Park.

Jordan Burris, the Event Coordinator with Bentleyville, says they are revamping the the 128-foot-tall tree this year.

“So it’s definitely early in August, but the tree typically gets worked every three to four years,” Burris said. “We have about 10, 15 volunteers right now who have scheduled times to come up and help with this tree project. But we’re looking for a lot more.”

Burris says the volunteers help make “the Tour of Lights” the dazzling spectacle every year. However, it means they need to get a jump start on their project. Volunteers helping out with Bentleyville have to string together nearly 200,000 lights.  

“We need help with putting lights and mounting strips, we need help with zip tying the mounting strips on the chicken wire,” Burris said. “We need help cutting zip ties. This is a great sit or stand job.”

The bentleyville preparations for the tree will take four to six weeks. Burris says volunteering can help people feel part of the community and make someone’s holiday season unforgettable.

“It’s fun to just like to chat with people you don’t know, or whether it’s a friend or a neighbor. Like it’s, it’s a fun time to come and like do something like this. Bentleyville makes Duluth… Duluth”

For more information on how you can sign up to volunteer you can look here. Also for other stories with Bentleyville you can read more here.