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Drought Conditions Affect Brentwood Holiday Event

Posted at 10:18 PM, Dec 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-10 23:41:48-05

A popular holiday tradition in Brentwood wasn't all that bright this year due to the ongoing drought in Middle Tennessee. 

Light Up Brentwood has been an event every December where residents line up their streets with luminaries: glowing paper bags with sand and a light source. It's been an opportunity for neighbors to catch up and brighten up the streets since the 1980's. 

"You'll see people typically turn off their headlights and cruise through the neighborhood slowly just to enjoy the lights," Brentwood resident Peter Kindrachuck told NewsChannel 5. 

Kindrachuck was one of only two residents on his Brentmeade street who participated. In November, residents were not allowed to use candles or live-flames because of the current drought conditions in the state. 

Since then, the burn ban in Williamson County and the City of Brentwood has been lifted, but several subdivisions still chose not to participate out of precaution. 

"I think people were so confused with all neighborhood blogs. For the most part they said we weren't going to do it until recently," Kindrachuck added. 

City officials still discouraged residents who were able to participate to avoid candles and use electric or battery-operated candles. 

Tennessee was still listed as being in a drought and currently behind up to eight inches of rain for the year.