Approximately 45 lighted displays are part of a popular annual Michigan City event.
The Festival of Holiday Lights continues through Sunday at Washington Park.
“The very first display was put up in 1981. It was just a Christmas display made out of a pole and wires. Then each year after we kept adding more displays and more rope lighting,” said Shannon Eason, assistant superintendent of the Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department.
“We didn’t add any new displays this year. However, we do move them around so they’re not always in the same location so (the display) does look different every year. We did add a lot of extra string lights. We have over 200,000 string lights, so that’s really added to it. That’s where they see the difference.”
Displays include a log cabin scene with cowboys, ice skates, animated jazz musicians, dinosaurs, dancing daises, a snail, and holiday scenes such as Santa and a sleigh.
“If you’re coming in town through the Uptown Arts District, they have also decorated that entire art corridor, so that’s nice. You can do the arts district first and check out Washington Park and our lights,” said Eason, of Michigan City. “It’s really a drive-through display.”
Eason said the “big draws” are that the display is free and located along the lakefront.
“The lakefront’s always cool in the wintertime,” she said.
Lake Michigan is a draw for Michigan City Parks & Recreation throughout the year.
“One of the newest features on the lakefront is North Pointe Pavilion, which opened in August 2015 and houses the Fire & Water restaurant. There are outstanding lake views. You can dine upstairs. It’s got a stage downstairs for entertainment,” said Eason.
“That’s probably the largest project we’ve done in the last two years.”
Environmental restoration also has been a focus for Michigan City Parks & Recreation under Superintendent Jeremy Kienitz.
“We’ve got a lot of properties along Trail Creek, so we’re working on infrastructure projects,” Eason said.
“We have been very aggressive in upgrading our playgrounds in the city to be safety- and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant. We’ve done five parks in three years, which is a very aggressive schedule.
“That’s with the support of Mayor Ron Meer and the City Council, who are funding those. Then we’re just planning on events for 2017. We’re looking at new events for Washington Park.”
The Festival of Holiday Lights is spread across approximately 50 acres of Washington Park with the help of partners, including B&E Marine Inc., the Michigan City Port Authority and Washington Park Zoo, and volunteers from the Michigan City Senior Center.
“That’s how we’re able to make the display successful and large every year,” Eason said.
“It’s fun. It’s unique. There’s not a lot of other light displays in Northwest Indiana.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Festival of Holiday Lights
When: 4:30 p.m. to midnight daily through Sunday
Where: Washington Park, 115 Lake Shore Drive, Michigan City
Admission: free
Information: 219-873-1506
Etc.: presented by the Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department
