The Mankato Downtown Kiwanis Club will host the Second Annual Kiwanis Holiday Lights November 29 to December 31, 2013 in Mankato’s Sibley Park. Kiwanis Holiday Lights is presented by the Mankato Area Foundation and CHS. The event is free and open to the public. Non-perishable items for area food shelves will be collected as well as cash donations. Guests can drive or walk through the lights display, and warming houses and concessions will be available.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights will feature over one million LED lights decorating trees, fences and buildings in the Sibley Park Grand Lawn area, as well as the family farm children’s area. New this year will be the Mary Dotson Skating Rink, which will feature synthetic ice, enabling skaters to enjoy the rink regardless of the weather. Other new attractions and activities include Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides presented by CHS for $5 per person on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, musical entertainment by local vocal groups on Saturday nights, a lighted computer-animated walking tunnel and 60’ lighted center tree.
Santa will be on-site on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and live reindeer will be on display for the duration of the event. A section of the lights will be choreographed to holiday music and each nonprofit involved in helping with the event will have a decorated tree devoted to their organization.
“Last year we were thrilled to have over 100,000 visitors. This year we’re planning to further expand the event by adding more lights and lighted displays,” said Scott Wojcik, Kiwanis Holiday Lights President.
The 33-night event will kick off on Friday, November 29 at 6 p.m. with a holiday parade featuring illuminated parade floats. Santa will wrap up the parade and flip the switch to turn on Kiwanis Holiday Lights for a spectacular finish. Hours of operation are Sunday-Thursday, 5 – 9 p.m., Friday & Saturday, 5- 10 p.m. (the park will open to driving traffic at 8 p.m. on opening night).
For maps, a complete calendar of events and more information, visit www.kiwanisholidaylights.com, “Like” the Kiwanis Holiday Lights Facebook page, email info@kiwanisholidaylights.com or call the Kiwanis Holiday Lights information line at 507-385-9129.