Twinkling lights, animated characters and Christmas Carols are great ways to get into the holiday spirit. This year you don’t have to drive a long way to enjoy all of these. The new Morris Lights on the Prairie display will open following the Parade of Lights on November 18.
Lights on the Prairie is a drive through Christmas light display that will be in its first year here in Morris. The display is at the Stevens County Fairgrounds where you can enter at the south entrance (near Denco), exit near the Lee Center and enjoy the beauty of the season on the way through. The buildings will be decorated, there will be a hooped drive through display and you can tune your radio to a station with music to accompany the displays.
This event is brought to the public by a group of volunteers and a number of area sponsors who have a goal of providing a drive-through Christmas Light Display. This group is working closely with the Morris Lions Club and Morris Area Chamber to build what the hope is to be a yearly event. One that can grow and improve each year.
Several area businesses have donated to the cause and you will see their signs along the route. Others have donated time to help build the displays and put lights on the buildings. Donations are still being accepted. You will also have an opportunity to donate at the end of the route for this Free Will event. There will not be a charge for admission and you can drive through as often as you wish.
The Lights on the Prairie Committee includes Tino Harris, Julie Evink, Mike Koehler, Kevin Williamsen and Peggy Kill. They began meeting early to get sponsors, design displays, and order products. They did not have a problem getting any of the lights ordered which are all LED to save on electrical costs.
Several days and nights have been set up for volunteers to help put up the lights. More volunteers will be needed to work on the nights when the drive through is open. Someone will be asked to direct traffic at the start of the route and another person to do troubleshooting in the event of an outage.
At the end of the display there will be a donation bucket if you wish to donate. All donations will go to the Morris Lions Club who do a variety of community related projects throughout the year.
This is the first year for what is hoped to be a yearly event in Morris. One that will grow and add more each year. The committee is looking at adding food vendors in the future as well as more lights. This year some special nights will include free skating at the Lee Center and Santa visits. Check out their website for full schedule.
Thursday, Nov. 18 after the Parade of Lights in Morris the drive through display will be open. After that they will be open on Friday and Saturday nights from after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26 and 27, until the weekend before Christmas, Dec. 17 and 18. The hours are from 5 to 10 p.m.
Load up the kids, guests, friends, grandpa and grandma and drive through the Lights on the Prairie this holiday season.
