A guide to Christmas light displays in the region

For many, the tradition of family bonding in the minivan searching for the best Christmas lights is a time-honored practice, and a free activity as well. This year, along with a little variety, some of the best options to take in with the family are the following:

The Holiday of Lights is open at Cape Girardeau County Park North through Dec. 31. (Fred Lynch)

• Cape County Park's Holiday of Lights display at 2400 County Park Drive in Cape Girardeau. There are 200 light displays put up by businesses and organizations in Cape County this year. The displays are set up by the individuals, so they all have different themes, centered around the holidays. The first show of lights was in 1987 with 11 displays, Parks Superintendent Bryan Sanders said the lights will be on from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights through Dec. 31.
• Another option is the Jackson City Park on Parkview Street where there are 75 displays that the Parks and Recreation department set up in the park. Director of Parks and Recreation Shane Anderson said that there are two types of displays -- the standard display for businesses and organizations and the memorials for the deceased. This year it the 20th year for lighting up the park, and Anderson said the theme for this year is "Lights of the Season." The park will be illuminated tomorrow through Dec. 31.
• Since 1960, decorating Huston's display window at 43 S. Main St. in Cape Girardeau has been a tradition passed down for three generations. The current owner, Dave Hutson, continues to decorate the storefront for passers-by. This year the window shows Santa riding on a giant pirate ship in the sky, with elves parachuting with presents for the good boys and girls. The ceiling and puffy floor of clouds are lit with twinkling lights, and Santa himself is waving behind the pane of glass. The display will be lit from dusk until 10 p.m. through the first week of January.
• For a fun family evening enjoying some indoor Christmas lights, Crossroads Church in Jackson is providing its third annual light show, "California Christmas." Each year Worship Pastor Andy Cutrell and Senior Pastor Brian Anderson work with their congregation to put on a performance for their parishioners and guests. The show takes place in the worship center, and is a mix between a play and a musical, with some comedy and drama thrown in -- and 35,000 Christmas lights.

"It's an hour long -- not musical -- but there are lots of music and lights involved in it," Cutrell said.

Compared to a Disney movie, the show is family friendly, and is centered around a beach bum in California and his struggle to keep his property from a corporation who wants to buy his homes and turn them into a shopping mall. However, Cutrell said the show stays light with many comical moments and, of course, a love interest thrown in. The reason for the show, Cutrell said, is a different take on Christmas; it's nothing like the average nativity show, and Cutrell said that the church enjoys staying relevant with the culture, producing modern-age shows for everyone to enjoy.

The Crossroads show is at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14.

Missing from the 2014 holiday lights lineup is the display of the Clark brothers of Kelso, Missouri. The brothers began decorating their mother's house at 624 County Road 208 in 2012. They're skipping 2014 to save on expenses and be able to continually add to the show. Brandon Clark confirmed that the lights will be back in 2015.

smaue@semissourian.com

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