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Holiday Decorating Crew: ‘We Always Want Downtown to Look Its Best’ 
If you like the way downtown shines and twinkles during the holidays, thank Dustin Hinshaw, the Public Service Department crew leader whose team every year hangs 2,000 strands of lights and constructs the City’s 42-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Hinshaw has had a hand in putting up more than 1 million holiday lights during his 12 years working for the City.

“Our guys are awesome, and we take this personally – we always want downtown to look its best,” he says.

“Same with me. I was born here, I grew up here, and I take a lot of pride in what we do.”

Public Service crews set up the 2020 downtown Christmas tree. Pictured here are Jon Howard (top left); Cody Foster (top right); Dustin Hinshaw (bottom left); and Tommy Fisher (bottom right).

Setting up the 2020 downtown Christmas tree: Pictured here are Jon Howard (top left); Cody Foster (top right); Dustin Hinshaw (bottom left); and Tommy Fisher (bottom right).


Hinshaw enjoys bringing his family downtown for holiday festivities. He says Christmas in the City will feel different this year, with COVID-19 safeguards forcing the cancellation of a huge tree-lighting celebration and a Gay Street holiday parade.

“Our crew misses events downtown,” he says. “You have to keep things safe, but we’re all ready for things to get back to normal.”

Hinshaw has worked in the Public Service Department’s downtown service area since he first came to work for the City. He likes the challenges, the variety of tasks, and even the occasional surprise assignment. It’s never boring.

“I enjoy the range of things we’re asked to do downtown,” he says. “It’s always something different.”
Posted by evreeland On 19 November, 2020 at 10:48 PM