Printable Version of Topic

Festival Of Lights Set For Dec. 1

Rick Richards
City Editor, The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Darren Westphal is getting pretty good at putting up Christmas decorations. After all, this year was the 20th time he's set up the Festival of Lights in Washington Park.

"It's a blast," said Westphal of the effort that starts in late July. "It is tedious at times, but it's a lot of fun, too."

The first Festival of Lights in 1988 took about an hour to set up, said Westphal. This year, it has taken eight weeks. Preparation began in late July when the displays were examined, repaired and the lights checked. That part, he said, takes until October, because "we still have to mow and do all the other stuff we have to at the parks."

After the 1988 display, Westphal said the displays were stacked against one wall in the park's maintenance building. Now, the displays take up two storage buildings as well as a portion of the main building.

But once October rolls around, Westphal's focus changes. Once the city's annual Oktoberfest ends, plans begin in earnest for setting up the displays, which often will take right up to the last minute.

Westphal, the maintenance director for the park department, said every display and every strand of light is plugged in and tested before it is set up in the park. He said the department has 1,100 strands of mini-lights (with 100 lights per strand) and some two to three miles of rope lighting.

"This year has been the best as far as weather is concerned. We've been able to get out and get a lot of things done in decent weather," said Westphal.

By Wednesday, all of the displays except for a new display that is being added this year were up. The new display, "Santa Claus Comes to Town," will be put up near the old bumper car building, said Westphal. Last year, a new arch over the entrance was added to the display. Both displays were made by Herman's Christmas Land in Warsaw, Ind.

Westphal said the generosity of the mayor's offices has helped the Festival of Lights grow. And as it has grown, the display's reputation has spread. For the second year in a row, the Festival of Lights has been named one of the Top 100 Events in North America and Canada by the American Bus Association.

Westphal said he and assistant maintenance director Wally Veden are the only ones in the department who have been around since the first Festival of Lights in 1988.

"It's really team effort," said Westphal. "Early on, it's one or two people working once in a while on the displays, but towards the end, everyone is involved. If it wasn't for the effort of my maintenance staff, it wouldn't get done.

When the lights are turned on (this year at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1), Westphal said that's when the magnitude of the job sinks in. "I like looking in the cars and seeing the kids point at the different displays. That's the rewarding part."

Also on Dec. 1, the city's third annual Challenge for a Cure Chili Cook-Off will be held. Competing for best chili will be teams from Central Services, the police department, municipal airport, the golf course, park department, inspection department and Sanitary District. Money raised to sample chili will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to battle breast cancer.

Also on Dec. 1, and again on Sunday, Dec. 2, Zooltide will be held at Washington Park.

There also will be horse drawn wagon rides, carolers, entertainment and other events to kick off the holiday season.

Park Department Superintendent Darrel Garbacik said Center Stage Music is providing the public address system for the events and Miller's Port-a-Potties and Meijer have donated cash to the even. Haas & Associates have contributed for the horse-drawn wagon ridge. Others helping out include Michiana Resources, Shannon Ease and Mike Dempsey.

Contact Rick A. Richards at news@thenewsdispatch.com.