3 • Vol. XII, Issue III, Holiday 2019
ILLINOISouth.org
TOURISM
TIMES Celebrate Decades of
Holiday Light Shows
by Pat White
When the switch is thrown at your favorite light display, it’s definitely Holiday time! That first drive or walk through the lights kicks off the season and puts a smile on everyone’s face. These displays have been doing that for decades!
It’s the Golden Anniversary of the Way of Lights!
For 50 years, millions of visitors have been enthralled by the story of the Birth of Christ at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Way of Lights. The Christmas story is told in a stunning drive featuring more than a million lights, electro art displays and life-size sculptures ending at the Nativity in the Grotto. But that wasn’t always the case.
In 1969, the idea of decorating for Christmas had a twofold purpose: it was a way to keep the groundskeepers busy through the winter, and a holiday display would attract more visitors to the Shrine. Pete Koopman was head groundskeeper when the first Way of Lights opened in 1970. He said, “That first year, we put up about 50,000 lights. All the trees and bushes were really small, so we didn’t even need ladders to string the lights.” The Nativity scene was in the Grotto and the drive through was pretty short. More lights and sculptures including the three Kings on camels, were added over the next several years. Pete kept copies of
the Shrine newsletters that chronicled many of the changes. A 1982 newsletter noted that “over 100,000 twinkling lights” were used on a mile and a half road. The Visitors Center was open every night and a slide program, puppet show and live animal corral had been added to the attractions. In 1985, 80,648 visitors were counted and 15 choirs had entertained guests. By the 20th Anniversary, the lights count was up to 150,000, electro-art sculptures had been added and there was an indoor Christmas Tree Display along with the Puppet Show. The Shrine expected to top the previous year’s counts of almost 56,000 cars and 350,000 visitors. Busloads of peo-
ple on holiday vacations came through, many staying overnight at the Shrine Hotel. Over the years, the Way of Lights has become a tradition not only in the metro-east, but for people who live all over the country. At this 50th Anniversary, Family Tradition is the theme. More than a million lights are used on the tunnel, on bushes, and in the trees (lots of ladders needed now!). Live animals include camel rides, as well as sheep, cows and a donkey. Visitors can drive, walk or take a horse-drawn carriage to experience the story from the Angel Gabriel telling Mary she was to be the mother of God, to Mary and Joseph’s arrival in Bethlehem, to the manger where the Baby was born. continued on page 3
