Celebrate Decades of Holiday Light Shows

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 people 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.

The Way of Lights will run starting November 22-December 31, 2019. Admission is free. For more information, visit snows.org/wol

The Christmas light display in Du Quoin was the brainchild of the Mayor’s wife, Wanda Rittenaur, in the 1990s. She had seen one in Salt Lake City, Utah, and thought it would be great to do at home. Originally, the display was done in conjunction with the Christmas Stroll on Main Street downtown. Merchants offered specials and decorated trees were available for sale. The Stroll ended at Francie's Bed & Breakfast with music and refreshments.

The Du Quoin Tourism Commission made the project its own and developed it over the years. In 2000, they wanted a larger space, so they partnered with the Carbondale Tourism Bureau to move the event to the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. The Bureau had access to resources the Commission needed to put together the lighted displays and other features on a larger scale. When cars drove through that first year, there were lights decorating bushes and trees and five displays: Ferris Wheel, Merry-go-round, Sulkies, farm animals and fair food. Inside the Expo Hall, chili and dessert was available and decorated Christmas trees were sold.

By 2004, visits with Santa and a train that children ride around an oval track were added in the Expo Hall, both of which are still big attractions. Hundreds more lights were strung outside and 3,500 cars were counted for an attendance of nearly 9,000 people.

Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, 655 Executive Dr. Tourism Commission, 618-542-8338; Facebook; duquointourism.org