Downtown Loveland’s holiday season will start off with the Festival of Lights on Friday on Fourth Street and at Foundry Plaza, and a team of volunteers will be working to ensure it runs smoothly and people have a great time.

One person who will be making sure participants get to the fun will be Kathi Wright, who will be serving as a crossing guard.

Wright, a Loveland resident since 1978, former director of the Boys & Girls Club and a former Loveland City Council member, said she is a big fan of the downtown area and she tries to volunteer for as many events as she can there.

She likes things that bring people together.

“I do try to do that,” she said with a smile.

One of those efforts will be seen at Friday’s festival. She volunteers with Loveland Habitat for Humanity, so this year she talked that group into having one of the stationary floats the Festival of Lights features.

Businesses, nonprofits and community groups put together “floats” that stay in one spot so festival-goers can walk by and enjoy them up close. This will be the second year for Floats on Fourth.

Due to construction work on Fourth Street, the city’s Christmas tree will be found at Foundry Plaza this year, and its lights will go on for the season at 7:30 p.m.

Before that Santa will arrive at 5 p.m., and there will be community performances on the stage at Foundry Plaza from 5:20 to 7:30. A stage also will be set up on Fourth Street with a DJ and musical performances.

Throughout the evening people can see roaming performers and live reindeer, and visit a holiday market on Fourth Street between Cleveland and Railroad avenues.

Free carriage rides will be offered, and Meals on Wheels will have a booth selling hot chocolate and s’mores kits.

Wright answered some questions about the event and her participation in it.

What can people expect at this year’s Festival of Lights?

Community! Memories! Fun!

Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Scrooge and the Grinch, reindeer, kids art activities, carriage rides, art market, live music, stationery float parade, yummy food and drink, and more.

How long have you been volunteering with the event? What is your job?

I volunteer for every event I can downtown. The Ice Cream Festival, Easter, concerts, etc. I sell tickets, clean up, stuff Easter eggs, and for the Festival of Lights I’m a crossing guard. It’s so fun to share greetings with the wonderful Lovelanders as they cross the street.

Why do you enjoy being part of the event?

I enjoy being part of any event downtown because our downtown crew are the best and really care about this community! I truly believe that downtown is the heart of every community, and I especially believe that Loveland is headed for a truly fabulous downtown and I want play a part in getting to that outcome.What other holiday events would you encourage Loveland residents to attend?

Other great events I never miss are the Loveland Choral Society concert “Christmas Confections” on Dec. 12, 13 and 14; the Colorado Youth Outdoors drive-through holiday light display; and the cookie exchange at the Methodist Church.

You formerly worked with the Winter Holiday Council, helping to decorate the city for the holidays. Are you still involved with that group?

The Winter Holiday Council is a small group of holiday loving communitarians that I admire greatly. They create the ornaments each year to help light up central Loveland. I have every ornament, and treasure each of them! Let me know if you want to see my collection. I am not serving on that group currently, as they have a mighty team.

And a bonus question. Loveland City Council is getting some new members. What do you hope to see from the new city leadership?

Care for community — wherever, however, whenever you can. It takes each of us!