Midwest City’s long-running annual Holiday Lights Spectacular animated light display in Joe B. Barnes Regional Park will be canceled this year due to the significant damage the city received during last week’s ice storm, city officials announced today.
According to city officials, there was substantial damage to trees in the park and to the light displays that had been installed prior to the storm.
The storm caused the city staff to lose several days for installation of the light displays. In addition, the personnel that normally would be involved in the installation will be redirected to cleanup efforts in Midwest City, according to a news release.
“This decision was made after much evaluation of the damage to the park and to the displays,” said City Manager Tim Lyon in a statement. “There’s simply not time to clean up the park and to repair and install displays before the holiday season.”
Lyon said the city sincerely regrets not being able to have the annual event, but cleaning up after the ice storm that affected so many residents will be the city’s priority for the next several weeks, possibly months.
Driving through the Holiday Lights Spectacular is a long-running yuletide tradition for many Oklahoma families.
The Holiday Lights Spectacular began in 1995 with just 44 displays and has grown over the years to feature more than 100 animated light displays. The 1 1/2-mile-long drive boasts over more than million lights with highlights including the 118-foot Christmas tree illuminated with more than 9,000 LED bulbs, the tunnel of lights, Santa fly fishing in a 15-foot waterfall, elves baking in the candy factory and more.
-BAM
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