Some Allen Township residents enjoyed the holiday sight of flickering luminaria along sidewalks and driveways Dec. 19. That’s because Debbie August introduced Luminaria Night to her neighborhood.

Luminaria Night has been a Bethlehem tradition for 24 years. It originally started in a small neighborhood west of Linden Street and north of Johnston Drive because three neighbors wanted to recreate the tradition of connecting homes with candlelight.

The $300 raised that first year all went to a family in need.

Since then, different charities have benefited from Luminaria Night until New Bethany Ministries affiliated itself permanently in 2003. All of the proceeds now go to New Bethany, which uses the money to “provide meals, financial services and housing to poor, hungry, homeless and mentally ill individuals and families in the Lehigh Valley.”

August is originally from Bethlehem and wanted to bring the event to the township for a few years. When her sister, who absolutely loved Luminaria Night, passed away after Christmas last year, she decided 2021 would be the perfect year to start it.

August would like to thank her neighbors Fran, Eileen and Marlene for doing so much to help her make this event possible.

There were 19 houses across Old Gate Road, Buckingham Drive and White Circle that participated in Allen Township’s Luminaria Night. August said she is thrilled with the number of participants for the first year and hopes to get more people involved next year.

A record-breaking 258 campaigns were started this year across the Lehigh Valley. Block captains promote the event, manage the campaigns through Fundrazr and distribute luminaria kits.

New Bethany’s website has more information for those wanting to be a block captain or start a campaign of their own next year.