AREA HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS TO BEGIN SOON; COUNTY PARK DISPLAYS TO BE LIT

Elves and reindeer, angels and mangers and even some cartoon characters will light up Cape Girardeau County North Park this week as the 11th annual Holiday of Lights festival begins.

A ceremony to officially begin the lights festival will be held Wednesday. Activities start at 5 p.m. The light switch will be thrown at about 6:20 p.m.

The display will be lit nightly from Thanksgiving through the New Year and is free.

"This is our 11th year and there were 11 displays the first year," said Bruce Watkins, county park superintendent. "This year we have 196 displays."

This year's displays top last year's number by more than 30. Last year, the park was host to 160 holiday exhibits.

Last year, 47,000 cars came through the display between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

"We anticipate, with the increased number of displays, that we will have more this year," Watkins said.

Wednesday's lighting ceremony begins at 5 with a performance by a brass ensemble. At 5:45, Presiding County Commissioner Gerald Jones will welcome visitors. Choirs from Teen Challenge and the Salvation Army will perform, then the lights will go on.

The Salvation Army canteen will provide hot chocolate and cookies to guests. Santa is scheduled to arrive, and a hot air balloon will be displayed.

Following Wednesday's ceremony, the exhibit will be on from dusk until 11:30 when the park closes.

"We have quite a wide variety of displays," Watkins said, "including quite a few displays designed for children."

Watkins said families in the region have made a trip to the Holiday of Lights display a tradition. Traffic is often heavy on weekends, and Watkins said traffic is steady during the week.

The Holiday of Lights festival is sponsored by the Cape Girardeau County Park Board and the County Commission.

HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS FESTIVAL

Lighting ceremony

Wednesday, 5-6:30 p.m.

Cape County North Park

5 p.m.

* Brass ensemble performs

5:45 p.m.

* Welcome and remarks from Gerald Jones, presiding county commissioner

* Performance by Teen Challenge and Salvation Army choirs

6:20 p.m.

* Lighting of displays