Festival of Lights ramps up for 14th edition

December 8, 2010

The 14th annual Festival of Lights will be held at Comanche Trail Park Dec. 15-31. (File photo)

It's almost time to turn Comanche Trail Park into a Christmas wonderland again.

The 14th annual Festival of Lights, featuring hundreds of lighted attractions ranging from poinsettias to oversized Christmas cards, is expected to draw more than 20,000 visitors to this year's run, which starts Dec. 15 at the city park.

The event, which concludes Dec. 31, is free to the public, although donations, which ensure the event's continued operation, will be greatly appreciated, said Howard Stewart, who has helped take over day-to-day oversight of the festival from long-time director Pat Simmons.

“We have to pay the electricity bills, get the meters turned on and off and all that costs us money,” Stewart said. “So donations are encouraged.”
While Simmons has dealt with recent health issues, Stewart, along with wife Vickie and son Queintinn, have handled most of the responsibilities of preparing this year's festival.