A local holiday light show may need to be added to a list of traditions. The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights is celebrating 16 years of holiday cheer. Menominee Park (520 Pratt Trail, Oshkosh) is filled with about three quarters of a million lights over a 1.2 mile course. A radio station featuring holiday music is designed to follow the light show.

Since the start in 2001, the annual event has collected over 118 tons of non-perishable food items. Upon arrival, visitors earn $1 off of the admission cost by donating. General admission is $10 per car load. Carriage and hay rides are also available with additional costs.

This year the event started on Friday, Nov. 24 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 31 2017.

Additional information can be located on the organization’s website: https://oshkoshcelebrationoflights.org/.

I did not need to travel far to experience a spectacular light show. It is practically in my backyard! The experience was wonderful. All the lights and music brought joy and holiday spirit out of all the families. The gift shop was filled with children, waiting to wish for a special toy from Santa. It really felt like Christmas was here.

The light displays made me say “wow.” Nearly 80 lighted trees, 100-foot tree and the colorful tunnel stole the show. The wire frame displays and the wood cutouts are also well displayed. The volunteers stress to take time and enjoy as much as possible, including timed-light displays that blink to the beat of holiday music.

“Seeing all the lights made me wonder where it all started,” Kyle Kuepper, Neenah, a participant of the event questioned.

He got me thinking, so I conducted some research. 

Christmas lights that cheerfully light up the dark nights have come a long way. They have become a tradition through time. According to History Behind Lights, light displays stem from the 17th century when Germany and Eastern Europe decorated Christmas trees and houses with candles during the holiday season. But during the 1880 Christmas season, Thomas Edison displayed the first official outdoor display outside of this laboratory. A few years later he created the first string of Christmas lights. The string was made out of 80 small light bulbs. By the 20th century they were a mass product –thus becoming more affordable.

Outdoor displays on homes then became more popular as well. Home lights can bring out competition. Neighbors try to outdo each other every year to see who can have the best display on the block, including mine. It has become a tradition within my neighborhood.

Take the time to enjoy a local holiday tradition. And I highly encourage light enthusiasts to take a drive, tune the radio and experience the spectacular feeling of holiday spirit at the Oshkosh Celebration of Lights.