WMOK — Metropolis, IL — Do you decorate your house and yard for Christmas? Then it is time to shine!

The Massac County Christmas Light Trail is back, and sign-ups are now open to have your home featured on the 2026 Christmas Light Trail map. This is a county-wide celebration where local residents and businesses light up their homes and storefronts for all to enjoy — a wonderful way to experience the festive spirit from the warmth of your car, and to share your light with thousands of visitors who drive the route.

No display is too big or too small. Whether your yard is filled with lights from end to end, or you have one cheerful display in the window, organizers want you on the map.

Here is what you need to know:

The deadline to sign up is Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26, 2026.

To sign up, fill out the form on the Massac County Christmas Light Trail Facebook page, or send the page a message. There is no official form needed beyond that — just reach out to the organizers to get your address on the map. Your address and location will be featured on the official Massac County Christmas Light Trail Facebook page, Google Maps, and all advertisements for the event.

If you want a yard sign, do not wait. The last day to order a Massac County Christmas Light Trail yard sign is Friday, November 13, 2026. Late sign-ups will not receive a sign unless extras remain.

Jennifer Johnson Travis, one of the event organizers, advised WMOK that preparations for the Christmas Light Trail are officially ramping up across the region, bringing community members, local decorators, and businesses together for the upcoming holiday season.

The trail is a month-long, county-wide celebration powered by your creativity, making an unforgettable memory for every family who drives the route. Think outside the box — and if you have a special event idea for your stop on the trail, such as Santa waving, a toy drive drop-off, or passing out candy or hot cocoa, list it when you sign up, and the organizers will reach out to coordinate a date and make sure it is announced.

Do not miss your chance to be part of Massac County’s favorite holiday tradition. Sign up by Thanksgiving Day, and help make this year the biggest and brightest ever.

November is Aviation History Month — a month to recognize the history of flight. And it lands at just the right time: the day before Veterans Day. So much of aviation history is military history, from the earliest military aircraft to the pilots and crews who have served ever since, including our own local veterans. This month, take a moment to look up — and to thank the folks who flew.

And today, Tuesday, November 10, is a full day all by itself:

• U.S. Marine Corps Birthday — the Marines were founded on this day in 1775
• Sesame Street Day — the show made its television debut on this day in 1969
• National Vanilla Cupcake Day
• National Forget-Me-Not Day
• National Young Readers Day — falling this year during Children’s Book Week, November 9–15
• Area Code Day
• International Accounting Day
• World Science Day for Peace and Development
• International Tongue Twister Day — try saying “WMOK Metropolis” five times fast!

WMOK – Metropolis, IL – The holiday season is officially around the corner, and the Massac Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is bringing back a seasonal favorite for local residents! Ticket sales are kicking off for a chance to win this year’s Holiday Sleigh—packed full of donated items, gift ideas, and goods provided by generous area businesses and community members.

Whether you’re tuning in from Metropolis, Brookport, Joppa, Unionville, or up on the bluff in New Columbia, here is how you can get in on the drawing and support our local hospital auxiliary:

• In-Person Ticket Sales at Big John Grocery:

  • Dates: Saturday, November 21st & Saturday, December 19th

  • Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Daily Ticket Purchases:

  • Location: Forget Me Not Gift Shop (Located inside the main lobby at Massac Memorial Hospital)

  • Hours: Monday through Friday | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

  • Other Options: Available through any Hospital Auxiliary board member, as well as select upcoming holiday bazaars.

• Ticket Pricing:

  • $5.00 per single ticket

  • 6 tickets for $20.00

• Grand Prize Drawing:

  • Date & Time: Sunday, December 20th at 2:00 PM

  • Details: One lucky winner will take home the entire Holiday Sleigh package!

Auxiliary members looking to sell tickets this season are encouraged to reach out and let leadership know.

• • Collection: Part of the Shawnee Library System, offering access to thousands of books, DVDs, and compact discs.
  • Dedicated Rooms: Features a specialized Genealogy Room alongside a separate section for Children and Young Adults.
  • Technology Lab: Includes a dedicated computer lab and classroom setup alongside public internet workstations and free Wi-Fi access. 

• Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Sunday: Closed

WMOK – Metropolis, IL – When you spend a hundred dollars here in Metropolis, where does that money go next? That is the real story of Small Business Saturday, coming up Saturday, November 28.

According to studies cited by Civic Economics and the American Independent Business Alliance, about $68 of every $100 spent at a locally owned business stays in the local economy. Spend that same $100 at a chain, and only about $43 stays local. That is a $25 difference on a single hundred dollars, and it adds up fast across a whole shopping season.

Here is how it works in plain hometown terms. A dollar spent at a hometown shop does not just sit in the register. It helps pay the folks who work there, and those paychecks get spent again close to home. It helps the shop buy from other local suppliers when it can, pay for local services, and keep its doors open on our streets. One purchase turns into another, and another, right here in Massac County.

A dollar that leaves town works differently. Once it is gone to a distant headquarters, it is not paying a neighbor, stocking a local shelf, or helping keep a local storefront lit up at night.

None of this takes a big budget or a big trip. It can be one gift, one meal, one everyday errand you choose to do locally instead of somewhere else.

Shoppers across the country already show how powerful that choice can be. American Express estimated that shoppers spent $22 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday in 2024 alone. Imagine even a small share of that kind of spending staying right here.

On November 28, your dollars do not have to travel far to do a lot of good. When the money stays home, Metropolis feels it.

Sources: American Express — Small Business Saturday 2024 spending estimate ($22 billion). Civic Economics / American Independent Business Alliance — local multiplier figures ($68 of $100 local vs. about $43 at a chain).