SPOTLIGHT

Holiday Happiness

VETERANS UNITED OFFERS DE-LIGHT-FULL DRIVE-THRU.

BY PEG GILL

There were a few bright spots during 2020’s COVID pandemic, and this event was one of them. Along with other local businesses, Veterans United Home Loans offered a drive-thru light show to bring holiday cheer and brighten the mood of countless Columbians.

This year, for the second time, VU is inviting mid-Missouri residents to enjoy a drive-thru holiday light spectacular on its main Columbia campus on South Providence Road. You can experience the magic from Dec. 7-19, between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. each night.

DISPLAY DEETS

“Bright Lights/Holiday Nights'' will offer a drive-thru delight each night with a 1-mile loop of lights, holiday displays and music. No reservations are required. But VU’s Manager of Community Relations Chad Moller says the home loan giant suggests attending on the latter end of each night’s visiting window, as last year’s inaugural event had quite a busy, bustling beginning each evening, resulting in significant wait times.

A MISSION TO PREVENT OMISSION

The Columbia Police Department will be assisting with traffic flow each night and visitors will not be permitted to stop or exit their cars during the tour. Enter the display from the easternmost Southampton Drive campus entrance and continue through the display until you exit through the westernmost Southampton Drive exit. During event hours, the only way to access Southampton Drive will be from State Farm Parkway. Turning east from Providence Road onto Southampton Drive will be restricted.

GET ENLIGHTENED

The driving route around the Veterans United main campus and the traffic flow accommodates an average of 1,000 cars per night. The display consists of LED lights and will feature a variety of 2-D and 3-D displays that are equivalent to over one million bulb lights! Community members are encouraged to stay up to date on the display by visiting Facebook.com/ VULights.

FAM JAM

Fill up a thermos with hot cocoa, grab some cups, pile your pajama-ed fam (or SO or pals) into a cozy car and tune into 98.3 The Dove (a Zimmer Radio Group-operated station that’s rockin’ round the clock Christmas songs)! Then prepare to pilot your sled — uh, merry mobile, reindeer ride or Santa SUV — through this fantastic, free, fun event.

Details

WHAT

“Bright Lights/Holiday Nights”

WHERE

Veterans United Main Campus, 4700 S. Providence Road, Columbia

WHEN

Dec. 7-19, between 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. each night

NOEL OR NO WAY?

Are you crazy about Christmas, getting all wrapped up in gift-giving, stocking stuffing and cookie creating? Or is it a time you tolerate, eager to be sans Santa? Maybe you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanza or even Festivus. How do you deal with the myriad of merry music, tinsel and trappings?

views

CONTENTS

127

Dueling DJs

129

On The Town

135

A New View

136

Darkow Draws

138

The Final Word