It’s just about time for Longmont to shine.

Every November and December, it’s great to see how brilliant our community’s holiday decorations can get. For some, it’s a simple string of lights on the roof or a tree in the window. Others go for the full theme park experience, covering every square inch with colorful displays and characters. It’s all part of the fun.

And each year, one of the parts we like best at LPC is when people remember to be careful with their pedestal lights.

You’ve probably seen them – the small, old-style lampposts in some parts of town that look like they came out of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” They not only provide light, they also hold electric meters for the nearby homes. So before including your own pedestal light in a burst of decorating enthusiasm, please remember the following:

• Never cover the meter window (it makes the meter hard to read!) or the photocell, which can cause the light to stay on in the day.
• Wrapping lights around the body of the pedestal light can make it hard for our techs to open the door for repairs or maintenance. (Decorating the neck is generally OK.)
• Older pedestal lights may have outlets, which should have a locked or sealed flap protecting them. Please don’t open the flap or use the outlet.
• Please don’t replace the lamp’s LED bulb with a tinted one. The bulbs are chosen for long life and effective illumination of the neighborhood.

Don’t forget to check out our more general safety tips for decorating your home at any time of year. That makes an already great experience better for everyone by making it safer for you.

And that’s enough to make anyone light-hearted.