Christmas comes but once a year, so electric cooperatives in communities across the country are making the most of it.
Co-op employees and their families are opening their hearts and wallets in keeping with the co-op principle of Concern for Community. Lineworkers are also showing their creative sides by decorating trucks as parade floats with holiday finery.
Take a look at co-op celebrations in our annual holiday photo gallery. Season's greetings from all of us at NRECA!
[image-carousels slides-to-show="1" infinite="true" text-size="80%25"]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Rudolph%20Float.jpg" title="Run%20Rudolph%20Run" description="%E2%80%9CRudolph%E2%80%93Lighting%20the%20Way%20Since%201936%E2%80%9D%20is%20the%20theme%20of%20Missoula%20Electric%20Cooperative%E2%80%99s%20float%20in%20the%202018%20Parade%20of%20Lights.%20It%20was%20the%20Missoula,%20Montana,%20co-op%E2%80%99s%20first%20appearance%20in%20the%20parade,%20which%20included%20giveaways%20of%20light-up%20Rudolph%20noses.%20(Photo%20By:%20Kelsey%20Lodge)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/SirenParkDisplayLighted.jpg" title="Bucketfuls%20of%20Kindness" description="To%20celebrate%2080%20years%20of%20service,%20Polk-Burnett%20Electric%20Cooperative%20in%20Centuria,%20Wisconsin,%20performed%2080%20acts%20of%20kindness.%20One%20such%20act:%20a%20custom-built%20lighted%20bucket%20truck%20display%20for%20the%20Siren%20Lions%20Club%20%E2%80%9CChristmas%20in%20the%20Park%E2%80%9D%20show.%20(Photo%20By:%20Joan%20O%E2%80%99Fallon)%20" linking="lightbox" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Leslie%20the%20Elf.jpg" title="Deck%20the%20Tree%20With%E2%80%A6Mittens%20and%20Hats" description="Ravalli%20Electric%20Cooperative%E2%80%99s%20Leslie%20McAfee%20shows%20off%20the%20third%20annual%20Warming%20Tree.%20Later%20this%20month,%20employees%20at%20the%20Corvallis,%20Montana,%20co-op%20will%20donate%20the%20accessories%20to%20local%20agencies%20for%20distribution%20to%20area%20residents.%20(Photo%20By:%20Melissa%20Greenwood)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/2018charityforChristmas.jpg" title="A%20Friendly%20Competition" description="Nothing%20does%20more%20to%20instill%20the%20spirit%20of%20giving%20at%20the%20Association%20of%20Illinois%20Electric%20Cooperatives%20in%20Springfield%20than%20the%20annual%20game%20of%20%E2%80%9CMoney%20Wars%E2%80%9D%20between%20male%20and%20female%20employees.%20Proceeds%20go%20to%20new%20toys%20for%20local%20children.%20(Photo%20By:%20Valerie%20Cheatham)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Lighted%2520digger%2520at%2520office.jpg" title="A%20Grand%20Entrance" description="Dakota%20Energy%20Cooperative%E2%80%99s%20festive%20digger%20truck%20shines%20at%20the%20Parade%20of%20Lights%20in%20Huron,%20South%20Dakota.%20Over%20a%20weekend,%20co-op%20employees%20put%20in%20eight%20hours%20to%20decorate%20the%20vehicle.%20%20(Photo%20By:%20Tyler%20Wipf)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/IMG_2196.jpg" title="It%20Takes%20a%20Village" description="Lighting%20the%2025%20evergreen%20and%20deciduous%20trees%20in%20time%20for%20the%20holidays%20at%20Livingston%20Rotary%20Depot%20Park%20is%20a%20community%20effort.%20Over%20the%20past%20several%20years,%20including%20this%20holiday%20season,%20Park%20Electric%20Cooperative%20in%20Livingston,%20Montana,%20has%20sent%20crews%20to%20help%20with%20the%20effort.%20(Photo%20By:%20Sarah%20Boyle)%20" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/2018%2520HA%2520Ekklesia%2520Turkey%2520Delivery%2520(20).jpg" title="Turkey%20and%20Trimmings%20for%20Dinner" description="Carteret-Craven%20Electric%20Cooperative%20workers%20deliver%20turkey%20breasts%20and%20sweet%20potatoes%20to%20residents%20in%20a%20subsidized%20senior%20living%20community%20near%20Newport,%20North%20Carolina.%20Proceeds%20from%20a%20memorial%20fund%20honoring%20a%20fallen%20lineworker%20go%20toward%20this%20annual%20giveaway.%20(Photo%20By:%20Lisa%20Taylor-Galizia)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Mountain%2520Parks%2520Electric.jpg" title="Judgment%20Day%20in%20Colorado" description="Employees%20at%20Mountain%20Parks%20Electric%20in%20Granby,%20Colorado,%20face%20the%20judges%20for%20an%20ugly%20sweater%20contest%20during%20the%20annual%20holiday%20party.%20Tying%20for%20first%20place%20were%20Liz%20McIntyre%20(far%20left)%20and%20Jason%20McKibben%20in%20the%20fireplace%20sweater.%20(Photo%20By:%20Stacie%20Dellamano)%20" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Hunter%20Rawlings%202018.jpg" title="Merry%20Fishmas" description="While%20not%20technically%20a%20sweater,%20a%20T-shirt%20worn%20by%20Hunter%20Rawlings,%20an%20apprentice%20lineworker%20at%20Coles-Moultrie%20Electric%20Cooperative%20in%20Mattoon,%20Illinois,%20still%20earned%20him%20the%20top%20prize%20at%20this%20year%E2%80%99s%20ugly%20sweater%20contest.%20(Photo%20By:%20Carla%20Bradbury)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/lightened%2520Santa-358319764.jpg" title="This%20Santa%20Wears%20a%20Belt%20and%20Hooks" description="Line%20pole%20climbing%20is%20one%20of%20Santa%E2%80%99s%20many%20hidden%20talents,%20as%20shown%20by%20Sangre%20de%20Cristo%20Electric%20Association%E2%80%99s%20Stacey%20Moss.%20The%20image%20was%20featured%20on%20this%20year%E2%80%99s%20holiday%20card%20sent%20by%20the%20Buena%20Vista,%20Colorado,%20co-op.%20(Photo%20By:%20Colton%20Blankenbeckler)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/EMEMC%2520VAC%2520Toy%2520Donation.jpg" title="Helping%20Hurricane%20Families" description="Employees%20at%20Edgecombe-Martin%20County%20EMC%20in%20Tarboro,%20North%20Carolina,%20sort%20through%20donations%20of%20new%20toys%20for%20children%20affected%20by%20Hurricane%20Florence.%20The%20toys%20went%20to%20children%20%E2%80%9Cadopted%E2%80%9D%20by%20Carteret-Craven%20EMC.%20(Photo%20By:%20Lisa%20Taylor-Galizia)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/IMG_1750.jpg" title="Deck%20the%20Truck" description="Volunteers%20from%20Roughrider%20Electric%20Cooperative%20in%20Hazen,%20North%20Dakota,%20lit%20a%20digger%20and%20decorated%20a%20float%20for%20the%20Parade%20of%20Lights%20in%20downtown%20Dickinson,%20North%20Dakota.%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Roughrider%20EC)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/co-op-bell-ringing.jpg" title="Cooperative%20Bell%20Ringing" description="For%20the%20past%20three%20years,%20employees%20from%20several%20electric%20cooperatives%20in%20North%20Dakota%20sponsor%20a%20red%20kettle%20on%20%E2%80%9CCo-op%20Day%E2%80%9D%20to%20benefit%20the%20Salvation%20Army.%20Mor-Gran-Sou%20Electric%20Co-op%20volunteers%20take%20their%20turn%20at%20the%20kettle%20and%20ring%20the%20bell%20at%20businesses%20in%20Bismarck%20and%20Mandan.%20(Photo%20By:%20Carmen%20Devney)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/12032018_CHRISTMAS_1.original.jpg" title="Santa%E2%80%99s%20Scene%20Stealers" description="It%E2%80%99s%20safe%20to%20say%20that%20Jackson%20EMC%E2%80%99s%20Jose%20Rodriguez%20(left)%20and%20Colby%20Chapman%20were%20the%20crowd%20favorite%20at%20the%20Green%20Street%20Parade%20near%20the%20co-op%E2%80%99s%20district%20office%20in%20Gainesville,%20Georgia.%20Dressed%20as%20elves,%20both%20men%20still%20took%20care%20to%20dress%20safely%20with%20sturdy%20harnesses%20securing%20them%20to%20power%20poles.%20(Photo%20By:%20Nick%20Bowman/Gainesville%20Times)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/REA%2520CHRISTMAS%2520LIGHT.jpg" title="Season%E2%80%99s%20Greetings%20From%20Platte%20County,%20Wyoming" description="Each%20year,%20Wheatland%20REA%20employees%20decorate%20the%20inside%20and%20outside%20of%20the%20co-op%E2%80%99s%20headquarters%20in%20Wheatland,%20Wyoming.%20%20(Photo%20By:%20LaRon%20Eller)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/santastables.jpg" title="Santa%E2%80%99s%20Stables%20on%20Wheels" description="Grand%20Valley%20Power,%20based%20in%20Grand%20Junction,%20Colorado,%20sponsors%20the%20Fruita%20Hometown%20Holiday%20Parade%20of%20Lights%20and%20Tree%20Lighting%20Ceremony%20every%20year.%20For%20this%20year%E2%80%99s%20theme,%20%E2%80%9CA%20Country%20Christmas,%E2%80%9D%20the%20co-op%20created%20a%20Santa%E2%80%99s%20stables%20float%20with%20reindeer%20and%20elves.%20(Photo%20By:%20Christmas%20Wharton)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/IMG_0834.jpg" title="Meow-y%20Christmas!" description="Pets%20with%20homes%20and%20those%20needing%20a%20%E2%80%9Cfur-ever%E2%80%9D%20home%20are%20the%20stars%20of%20a%20%E2%80%9CSanta%E2%80%99s%20Buddy%E2%80%9D%20float%20in%20this%20year%E2%80%99s%20Pat%20Taylor%20Memorial%20Parade%20of%20Lights%20in%20Ada,%20Oklahoma.%20People%E2%80%99s%20Electric%20Cooperative,%20based%20in%20Ada,%20and%20a%20local%20animal%20shelter%20were%20the%20creative%20minds%20behind%20the%20float.%20(Photo%20By:%20Jennifer%20Boeck)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/2018%2520LP%2520Christmas%2520Parade%25202%2520cropped.jpg" title="Christmas%20in%20Florida" description="Perched%20atop%20a%20truck%20from%20Glades%20Electric%20Cooperative%20in%20Moore%20Haven,%20the%20Abominable%20Snowman%20greets%20onlookers%20during%20the%20annual%20Christmas%20parade%20in%20Lake%20Placid.%20(Photo%20By:%20Jennifer%20Koukos)%20" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/bard-john-nick.jpg" title="Santa%E2%80%99s%20Helpers" description="The%20local%20Angel%20of%20Love%20program%20is%20an%20annual%20highlight%20at%20Shelby%20Energy%20Cooperative%20in%20Shelbyville,%20Illinois.%20Employees%20go%20on%20lengthy%20road%20trips%20to%20deliver%20items%20to%20needy%20families.%20Brad%20Wright%20(left)%20and%20son,%20Zac,%20drove%20from%20their%20Taylorville%20home%20to%20the%20co-op,%2080%20miles%20roundtrip.%20(Photo%20By:%20Kevin%20Bernson)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/adams-columbia-holiday-gallery.jpg" title="Court%20Order" description="Each%20year,%20Adams-Columbia%20Electric%20Cooperative%20lineworkers%20hang%20Christmas%20lights%20on%20a%20tree%20near%20the%20courthouse%20in%20Adams%20County,%20Wisconsin.%20(Photo%20By:%20Ashley%20Miller)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/DSC_0209.jpg" title="Stuff%20the%20Truck" description="Fall%20River%20Electric%20Cooperative%20volunteers%20collect%20donations%20of%20food%20for%20needy%20families%20at%20one%20of%20several%20%E2%80%9CStuff%20the%20Truck%E2%80%9D%20drives%20in%20its%20Ashton,%20Idaho,%20service%20area.%20Donations%20will%20help%20stock%20food%20banks%20in%20the%20Upper%20Valley%20area.%20%20(Photo%20By:%20Ted%20Austin)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/LaGrange%2520County%2520REMC%2520Christmas%2520party%25202%2520(2).jpg" title="Is%20He%20for%20Real?" description="Raegan%20Grogg,%20granddaughter%20of%20LaGrange%20County%20REMC%E2%80%99s%20Gary%20Grogg,%20pauses%20before%20she%20meets%20Santa%20Claus%20at%20the%20LaGrange,%20Indiana,%20co-op%E2%80%99s%20Christmas%20party.%20(Photo%20By:%20Kelly%20Lynch)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Noble%2520REMC%2520Christmas%2520light%2520parade%2520(2).jpg" title="Santa%20in%20a%20Bucket" description="That%E2%80%99s%20Santa%20Claus%20falling%20down%20a%20bucket-turned-chimney%20on%20this%20year%E2%80%99s%20holiday%20float%20decorated%20by%20employees%20at%20Noble%20REMC%20in%20Albion,%20Indiana.%20At%20the%20town%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9CChristmas%20in%20the%20Village%20Parade,%E2%80%9D%20employees%20handed%20out%20co-op%20hats%20and%20ice%20scrapers.%20(Photo%20By:%20Mandy%20Burns)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Christmas%2520parade%25201%2520(3).jpg" title="%20A%20Merry%20Makeover" description="For%20this%20year%E2%80%99s%20Christmas%20parade%20in%20Paxton,%20Illinois,%20employees%20at%20Eastern%20Illini%20Electric%20Cooperative%20gave%20a%20restored%201950%20FWD%20digger%20truck%20the%20holiday%20treatment.%20The%20truck%20can%20only%20travel%20up%20to%2035%20mph,%20plenty%20fast%20for%20a%20parade.%20(Photo%20By:%20Melinda%20Garrelts)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/ChristmasParade2.jpg" title="Wheat%20Belt%20PPD%20on%20Parade" description="The%20float%20sponsored%20by%20Wheat%20Belt%20Public%20Power%20District%20in%20Sidney,%20Nebraska,%20had%20a%20busy%20fall%20and%20winter,%20appearing%20in%20four%20parades,%20including%20the%20Parade%20of%20Lights%20in%20Sidney.%20%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20the%20City%20of%20Sidney)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/Auction%25202018%2520(2).jpg" title="The%20Giving%20Spirit" description="South%20Central%20Indiana%20REMC%20employees%20raised%20more%20than%20$3,500%20during%20an%20annual%20auction%20for%20Christmas%20baskets%20to%20local%20families%20in%20need.%20After%20a%20wrap-a-thon,%20employees%20deliver%20the%20baskets.%20(Photo%20By:%20Shelby%20Thomas)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/DSC_2388red.jpg" title="A%20Bright%20New%20Start" description="A%201938%20Chevrolet%20bucket%20truck,%20restored%20by%20employees%20at%20United%20Power%20in%20Brighton,%20Colorado,%20gets%20its%20reveal%20at%20the%20Brighton%20Festival%20of%20Lights%20Parade.%20The%20truck%20will%20appear%20at%20several%20events%20next%20year,%20the%20co-op%E2%80%99s%2080th%20anniversary.%20(Photo%20By:%20Erin%20Hane)%20" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/power-plant-lights-gallery.jpg" title="Snazzy%20Hydroplant" description="Cloverland%20Electric%20Cooperative%20in%20Sault%20Sainte%20Marie,%20Michigan,%20even%20the%20hydroplant%20gets%20a%20chance%20to%20shine%20during%20the%20holidays,%20thanks%20to%20Jesse%20Bishop%20(l)%20and%20Clifton%20%E2%80%9CDucky%E2%80%9D%20Duvall.%20(Photo%20By:%20Wendy%20Malaska)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/pedernales-lights-blanco.jpg" title="Getting%20Ready%20for%20the%20Holidays" description="Pedernales%20Electric%20Cooperative%20lineworkers%20hang%20lights%20at%20the%20Old%20Blanco%20County%20Courthouse%20in%20Blanco,%20Texas.%20%20(Photo%20By:%20John%20Larsen)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/platte-clay-elec-holiday.jpg" title="Keeping%20With%20Tradition" description="In%20Kearney,%20Missouri,%20Platte-Clay%20Electric%20Cooperative%E2%80%99s%20Mitch%20Harding%20carries%20out%20the%20annual%20tradition%20of%20decorating%20a%20tree%20for%20the%20mayor%E2%80%99s%20Christmas%20Tree%20Walk.%20%20(Photo%20By:%20Garrett%20Poorman)" /]
[image-carousel image="/news/PublishingImages/carroll-emc.jpg" title="Move%20Over,%20Martha%20Stewart" description="Carroll%20EMC%E2%80%99s%20information%20technology%20department%20won%20first%20place%20in%20the%20group%20category%20at%20the%20co-op%E2%80%99s%20desk-decorating%20contest.%20A%20TV%20fireplace%20and%20lights%20turned%20their%20work%20station%20into%20a%20festive%20spot.%20(Photo%20By:%20Anitra%20Ellison)" /]
[/image-carousels]
