Nearly two dozen volunteers showed up Saturday, clad in warm coats, hats and gloves to help committee leaders Tom and Nancy Donchez decorate the Ligonier Diamond. “I am glad to see so many volunteers here to help decorate the Diamond for Christmas,� said Ligonier Mayor Ormond “Butch� Bellas. “We always have the greatest volunteers. People give up their time for this. It's great.� On Saturday, recently purchased garlands were wrapped around the lamp posts. The bandstand was wrapped in garland and red ribbons. More than 250 strings of white lights were strung in the trees and on the bandstand. “There are at least 5,000 lights on the bandstand alone,� Tom Donchez said. Donchez said he plans to put new LED lights on the bandstand next Christmas. “The bandstand is getting a new coat of paint next year. After it is painted, we will string the new LED lights that will stay up year round.� He said nearly 150 sets of the new lights have already been donated. This year they will be placed on the trees and in the Town Hall courtyard. “George Conti donated 100 sets of the new lights and is conducting a fundraising drive to obtain more lights for next year's display,� Donchez said. “We will switch over to all LED next year.� Jill Bevilacqua is a 10-year Diamond decorator volunteer. “I take pride in how our bandstand looks as people who make Ligonier a destination,� Bevilacqua said. “It is so much fun and it looks so beautiful.� She said she is looking forward to going to see “Love the Coopers� which features two scenes of the Ligonier Diamond's decorated Diamond. “Anytime Ligonier can be showcased is a good thing,� Bevilacqua said. “It's gotta be good, it's in as movie,� said first-year volunteer Genie Garland, a good friend of the Donchezs. “They are very dedicated and put a lot of time and effort to keep it looking great.� Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce President Janet Riordan helped hang garland on the bandstand and spoke about watching “Love the Coopers� Friday night. “Our Diamond was so beautiful. I was so proud to see it in the theater,� Riordan said. “The bandstand appears two times in the movie. I feel so proud that we were selected out of all the other little towns in America. Ligonier is in a major movie.� Elizabeth Campbell has been bringing Family and Community Science students to help decorate for eight years. The students decorate the Santa station and help put lights on the trees as a service project. Volunteers will return to the Diamond Saturday to set up the wooden Christmas displays and wagon. “This is the heavy duty part of the job and we could use some heavy duty helpers,� Donches said. Looking forward, Donchez plans to update the displays before the 2016 season. “They could all use a fresh coat of paint and we would really love to add some new displays. Santa's sleigh is in need of repair,� Donchez said. “We would like to approach the high school administrators to see if the students might be interested in designing and making new displays for us.� Volunteers will meet at the bandstand at 9 a.m. Walk-in volunteers are welcome. Deborah A. Brehun is a staff editor for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-238-2111 or dbrehun@tribweb.com.