PORT ANGELES – Downtown Port Angeles will shine brighter this holiday season with expanded LED lighting on trees starting Friday.

Volunteers, led by the newly formed Port Angeles Waterfront District, will handle the setup, taking over from the Olympic Kiwanis Club, which has overseen the lights for many years.

“So, the Kiwanis Club for about 30 years has been generously donating their time and effort, and the method in which they’ve been putting these lights up is the old ‘cyclone method’ and they were using incandescent lights,” said Waterfront District Executive Director Sam Grello. “You could only get about five strings on a tree. With the LED lights, we can have up to forty five strands. But we are also going to be installing the lights in a different way. We’ve taken the cue from what they do over in Blyn, and we’re going to be wrapping the trees. It’s going to look different.”

Grello said the organization secured lodging tax funds to enhance the display.

“For this first year, we’re just doing the cool white. And the lights are going to be exciting. We’re looking at between 20 and 30 strands per tree on the big trees that are still downtown. So, it’s really going to illuminate the streets,” said Grello.

Volunteers are needed to continue hanging lights over the next few weeks. Those interested in helping can contact the Waterfront District.