The inaugural Community Holiday Light Show at Ballou Park drew more than 1,000 vehicles over the 12-day event. More than 20 community groups, companies and families built light displays for the show, ranging from Clark Griswold’s house to a winter wonderland.
The show opened Dec. 15 and continued nightly, except for Christmas Eve, through Dec. 27. The cost for each vehicle to enter the park and see the light displays was $7.
“It is evident that this is something that Danville residents wanted and we have started a new tradition that already has people excited as to what next year may bring,” said Lisa Ferguson, special recreation division director for Danville Parks and Recreation. “Most of the groups involved this year have already expressed interest in participating again.”
The light show had been on the wish list for Ferguson and her staff, but creating the displays that are popular in other communities was out of reach because of the high cost.
“The only way we could make this show was through the community,” Ferguson said. “We didn’t know what to expect when we put it out there. It was amazing to see these groups get behind the idea and build such great displays.”
Ferguson said that as long as groups commit to building displays, Parks and Recreation will host the event.
Not only did community groups build the displays, groups also volunteered to work the show.
Along with hosting the displays, Parks and Recreation hosted an opportunity for residents to have free photos made with Santa at his workshop in Ballou Nature Center. A total of 653 photos were made.
