Driving through the streets of Natchez this holiday season I am reminded of the final scene of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Staring down from the mountainside looming over Whoville, the Grinch and his dog Max celebrate with joy atop the pile of Christmas loot they stole from the Whos Christmas Eve night.

Ready to send the load off the side of a cliff, the Grinch stops to listen for the cries of the Whos when they realize their holiday has been snatched away. Instead, he hears the Whos singing Christmas carols in the middle of Whoville Square.

In the way only Dr. Seuss could accomplish, the once barren square suddenly lights up in a brilliant Technicolor holiday feast (complete with roast beast) as the Grinch rides back into town returning the stolen loot.

Last year a few city officials wanted to call me the Grinch and maybe a few other names when I lamented over the city’s inability to organize a simple holiday lights display.

As the holiday lights beamed brightly from the other side of the river, Natchez sat in relative darkness.

Even the city Christmas tree in the middle of Main Street stood with a strip of lights unlit, leaving the holiday landmark wounded. For most of the season downtown streets remained as empty as Whoville Square that fateful Christmas Eve.

Unlike Dr. Seuss’ classic tale, Natchez’s holiday predicament did not come about because of the evil intentions of one person. More than likely it was due to something more grinchier — boredom from doing the same thing year after year.

Whatever holiday spirit remained was given over to a newly rejuvenated Christmas parade. But after that busy night, downtown Natchez looked more like a ghost town than a scene from the front of a Christmas card.

Despite the bleakness of Christmas 2008, there evidently was a small spark still smoldering.

Unwilling to let the season fall into darkness, a small group known as the Christmas committee started planning in the summer to redo Christmas, to add a little enthusiasm and color.

Chaired by Ginger Hyland and Regina Charboneau, this group of private business and home owners have transformed downtown Natchez with Dr. Seussian skill.

Red bows, green garlands and wreaths decorate the streets. Even though every downtown building is not decked in white lights, this year’s display gives a glimpse of more dazzling Christmas’s to come.

City crews have put up a glittering display of lights around the visitor reception center parking lot for residents and tourists to see.

More impressive may be the community involvement in the project. The night of the city Christmas tree lighting hundreds of people gathered at the intersection of Main and Commerce streets to enjoy gumbo, fellowship and the beginning of the season.

More than 20 vocal groups from all parts of the Miss-Lou will sing around the city tree each night between now and New Year’s Day to entertain shoppers and tourists.

A puppet show, a hot chocolate competition, a historic pub tour join the already busy Christmas happenings for which Natchez is known.

Unlike last year, this year promises to be cheerful and bright thanks to the cooperation of the city and community. What has been accomplished this year demonstrates what can be accomplished when we all work together all year round.

Maybe we should join hands around the city tree and sing, “Fah who for-aze. Dah who dor-aze, Welcome Christmas, come this way…”

Ben Hillyer is the Web editor of The Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3550 or ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.